PHOENIX SUNS

Northern Arizona Suns tab Cody Toppert as new head coach

Nov 4, 2017, 7:43 PM

(Twitter Photo/@topp33)...

(Twitter Photo/@topp33)

(Twitter Photo/@topp33)

The Northern Arizona Suns announced they have hired Cody Toppert as their new head coach Saturday.

After spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Toppert, 34, will take over head coaching duties for the first time in his career.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Cody, his wife Brittney, and his two daughters to the Suns family,” NAZ Suns General Manager Louis Lehman said. “Cody embodies everything the Suns organization looks for in a coach and a person. His knowledge of the game, character, work ethic, and past experiences as a player and coach have prepared him for this opportunity. I look forward to working with Cody on building off of the success our previous staff was able to lay the foundation for and establish the Northern Arizona Suns as the premiere franchise in the NBA G League.”

Along with working with the Vipers, Toppert was also involved in the team’s parent club, the Houston Rockets. He worked on scouting projects the last two years with the team and also assisted their 2016 Summer League team.

The move comes after the departure of the NAZ Suns former head coach Ty Ellis, who was called up by the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach on Oct. 24.

Toppert will be coaching in Saturday’s home game against the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.

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