Tommy Lloyd

Tommy Lloyd is one of college basketball's most successful coaches, with roots tracing back to Kelso, Washington, where he graduated from Kelso High School in 1993 and led the Hilanders to the WIAA state 4A tournament his senior year. After playing college ball at Walla Walla Community College and Whitman College and a brief professional career overseas, Lloyd joined Mark Few's staff at Gonzaga in 2000. Over the next two decades, he helped build the Bulldogs into a perennial national contender, earning a reputation as one of the top assistants in the country. In April 2021, Lloyd was named head coach at Arizona, where he quickly made history. His first two seasons produced an NCAA-record 61 wins, and through five years he has led the Wildcats to a 148–35 record, three conference titles, and a Final Four appearance in 2026 — establishing himself as one of the premier coaches in the game today.

Growing up in Kelso and attending Butler Acres Elementary and Coweeman Junior High, Lloyd’s rise to college basketball stardom is a massive point of civic pride. His continued success as a Division I head coach serves as proof to Kelso student-athletes that big dreams are attainable. Lloyd’s coaches frequently point to him as an embodiment of Kelso's working-class roots. His legendary work ethic, first developed on Kelso basketball courts, is often used as a teaching tool for young athletes in the region.