Tyus Edney may best be known for his legendary role in securing the 11th win for UCLA in the 1995 NCAA tournament title championship with a buzzer-beating shot, but his career and legacy are far from one note.
In his first collegiate season in 1992, the 5’10” point guard was named the most valuable freshman on the team, followed up by MVP during his sophomore year. After being named to the first-team PAC-10 for the third consecutive year in a row in 1994, Tyus also won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award for the nation's best player under six feet tall.
Following the career-making March Madness tournament, Tyus was drafted by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 1995 NBA draft as the 47th overall pick. He played two seasons in Sacramento before getting traded to the Boston Celtics during the 1997-1998 season.
After the ’98 season, Tyus spent two years abroad playing in the EuroLeague where he won the championship and EuroLeague Final Four MVP award with the Lithuanian club, Žalgiris Kaunas. Edney then played in Italy during the 1999–2000 season with Benetton Treviso winning the Italian Cup.
In 2001 Edney returned to the NBA playing for the Indiana Pacers during the 2000–2001 season.
Edney then bounced around several European teams, including another stint with Benetton Treviso (2001–2004), Lottomatica Roma (2004–2005), Olympiacos (2005-2006), Climamio Bologna (2006-2007), BC Azovmash (2007-2008), Caja San Fernando (2008), and Turów Zgorzelec (2009-2010).
With such a versatile and successful career, it came as no surprise when Edney was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 2009 and the PAC-12 Hall of Honor in 2014.
With the knowledge and skills he gained during his professional career in the spotlight, it made sense for Edney to take up work behind the hoop. In 2010 he returned to his alma mater, UCLA, as the Director of Operations for Men's Basketball. During the next seven years, Tyus would help the team go on to make five trips to the NCAA Tournament, including three Sweet 16 appearances. The Bruins went on to win the Pac-12 regular-season title in 2013 and secured the Pac-12 Tournament crown in 2014. Tyus then served as an assistant coach with the Bruins during the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons.
In 2019, he was named the Director of Engagement for the UCLA Athletic Department where he remains today. Additionally, Tyus serves on the UCLA Alumni Board, UCLA Athletic EDI Committee, and Golf Committee at the John Tracy Center.
Edney's passion for coaching and basketball kept him involved in the community while working as the Director of Engagement at UCLA. He coached a women's high school basketball team before being offered the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach position at University of San Diego where he currently coaches under the leadership of his former coach Steve Lavin. Full circle coaching.
