Florida basketball: Taurean Green returns to Gators as director of player development

By OnlyGators.com Staff
May 23, 2022
Florida basketball: Taurean Green returns to Gators as director of player development
Basketball

Image Credit: UAA

Two-time national championship-winning point guard Taurean Green has returned to wearing orange and blue. Green on Monday formally joined the Florida Gators as the new director of player development. Head coach Todd Golden announced a month ago that Green would be part of the program at the conclusion of the 2022 NBA season.

“Gainesville became like another home to me during my time at UF, and I can’t wait to be back,” Green said in a school release. “Florida is such a special place, and I’m ready to do everything I can to help our players, Todd Golden, the coaching staff and the entire program have success. Gator Nation, it feels great to be coming home!”

Green was currently serving as the Chicago Bulls player development coordinator under former Gators head coach Billy Donovan. As part of a handful of conversations he’s had with Donovan since taking the Florida job, Golden received the coach’s blessing to bring Green back to Gainesville, Florida, noting previously that Billy D was “super onboard” with the move.

“I couldn’t be more excited for Taurean to join our staff,” Golden said in the release. “He’s one of the best to ever wear the Gator uniform and understands what it takes to achieve at the highest levels here. He’ll be an incredible resource for our student-athletes and an important connection to the tradition of excellence here, both for our fans and for all the past Gators who will always be part of the Florida family.”

Green was a member of the Gators basketball team from 2004-07, leading Florida to consecutive NCAA Tournament championships as the floor general in 2006-07. UF went 68-11 (23-9 SEC) across his final two seasons with a pair of SEC Tournament titles and a regular-season crown in 2007.

After being selected in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, Green played a total of 17 games across his rookie season for Portland and the Denver Nuggets. He eventually gave up his NBA career to play overseas, which he did across 14 years from 2008-21. He won a championships in the Polish League (2021 with Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski) and France’s top league LNB Pro A (2014, Limoges CSP) before choosing to retire as a player in 2021.

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