Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Love Joins 2026-27 Saluki Basketball Staff as Assistant Coach
08/26/2026 | 4:38:00 | Men's Basketball
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois men's basketball announced the addition of Loudon Love to its 2026-27 coaching staff Wednesday. A former standout at Wright State under Scott Nagy, Love returns to college basketball as an assistant under his collegiate head coach.
"I am beyond excited to add Loudon to our staff," Nagy said. "Loudon's collegiate and G League playing experiences make him invaluable to our staff."
Love most recently spent the last five years playing professional basketball overseas, in Canada and the United States. After signing a professional contract in the Nationale Masculine 1 league in France, he entered the 2021 NBA G League Draft and was selected 10th overall by the Texas Legends. He then had brief stints with Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro in Italy and the Niagara River Lions in Canada in 2023-24. He returned to the G League in 2024 and played with the Mexico City Capitanes, Cleveland Charge and Raptors 905 through 2025.
Love returns to collegiate basketball under his former head coach, having played for Nagy at Wright State from 2017-21. During his time with the Raiders, Love grabbed 1,124 rebounds, the most of any Wright State player and the only one to reach 1,000. As a redshirt freshman, Love made an immediate impact, averaging 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game on a Wright State team that reached the NCAA Tournament and finished 25-10 overall. He was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-Conference. As a sophomore, he raised his scoring average to 15.1 points per game, including 30 games in double figures. He earned his first All-Horizon First-Team honor that season. Love continued to reach new heights as a junior and senior, earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors both seasons. He collected a career-high 20 rebounds against Detroit Mercy in January 2020 and recorded his 1,000th career rebound almost exactly one year later in a win over Youngstown State. He scored a career-high 34 points in an 86-56 victory over Robert Morris less than a month later.
"His personality, work ethic and attitude make him a perfect addition to our current staff," Nagy said.
Love attended Geneva Community High School in Illinois and was a star on the court and the football field, where he played offensive tackle. He averaged 11 points and nearly seven rebounds for a 30-win team as a junior. A football injury in the Class 7A playoffs forced him to miss his senior year of basketball. After receiving a bevy of offers, Love committed to play for Nagy at South Dakota State before following him to Wright State when Nagy received the job before the 2017 season.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
"I am beyond excited to add Loudon to our staff," Nagy said. "Loudon's collegiate and G League playing experiences make him invaluable to our staff."
Love most recently spent the last five years playing professional basketball overseas, in Canada and the United States. After signing a professional contract in the Nationale Masculine 1 league in France, he entered the 2021 NBA G League Draft and was selected 10th overall by the Texas Legends. He then had brief stints with Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro in Italy and the Niagara River Lions in Canada in 2023-24. He returned to the G League in 2024 and played with the Mexico City Capitanes, Cleveland Charge and Raptors 905 through 2025.
Love returns to collegiate basketball under his former head coach, having played for Nagy at Wright State from 2017-21. During his time with the Raiders, Love grabbed 1,124 rebounds, the most of any Wright State player and the only one to reach 1,000. As a redshirt freshman, Love made an immediate impact, averaging 12.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game on a Wright State team that reached the NCAA Tournament and finished 25-10 overall. He was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year and Second-Team All-Conference. As a sophomore, he raised his scoring average to 15.1 points per game, including 30 games in double figures. He earned his first All-Horizon First-Team honor that season. Love continued to reach new heights as a junior and senior, earning Horizon League Player of the Year honors both seasons. He collected a career-high 20 rebounds against Detroit Mercy in January 2020 and recorded his 1,000th career rebound almost exactly one year later in a win over Youngstown State. He scored a career-high 34 points in an 86-56 victory over Robert Morris less than a month later.
"His personality, work ethic and attitude make him a perfect addition to our current staff," Nagy said.
Love attended Geneva Community High School in Illinois and was a star on the court and the football field, where he played offensive tackle. He averaged 11 points and nearly seven rebounds for a 30-win team as a junior. A football injury in the Class 7A playoffs forced him to miss his senior year of basketball. After receiving a bevy of offers, Love committed to play for Nagy at South Dakota State before following him to Wright State when Nagy received the job before the 2017 season.
FOLLOW THE SALUKIS
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Salukis by visiting SIUSalukis.com as well as following the team on X at @SIU_Basketball, Instagram at @SIU_Basketball, and Facebook at Facebook.com/SIUBasketball. Fans can also download the "Salukis" mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
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