Doug West Hometown: Altoona, Pa. High School: Altoona Position: Assistant Coach Birthdate: 05/27/1967 Graduated: 1989

1989 Villanova graduate Doug West returned to his alma mater when he was named an assistant basketball coach by Jay Wright on Oct. 5, 2007.

"We are thrilled to have another member of the Villanova basketball alumni family join our staff," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright. "Doug is a great addition to our staff because of his experience in the NBA and, most importantly, for the pride he takes in being a part of the Villanova basketball program."

During his four seasons on the Main Line, the 6-7 West was one of the most prolific scorers in Villanova history. He totaled 2,037 points from 1985-89 and still ranks fourth all-time on the school's scoring list. In 1988, he helped lead the Wildcats to the Elite Eight and was named to the all-Southeast Regional team for his efforts. Wright served as an assistant coach on that Villanova staff.

West, 40, was later named to the Big Five Hall of Fame for his work as a Wildcat.

After graduating with a degree in communications, West was selected in the second round of the National Basketball Association draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played for the Timberwolves for nine seasons, averaging a career-best 19.3 ppg in 1993 and remains ranked third on the team's all-time list for points (6,216), field goals made (2,530), games played (609) and minutes played (15,603). Following the 1998 season, he was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies, where he played until his career concluded in 2001.

West, a native of Altoona, Pa., returned to western Pennsylvania after his playing days were complete. From 2001-03, he served as the boys' varsity and junior varsity assistant coach at Canon-McMillan High School in Canonsburg, Pa. In 2004, he became athletics director and strength and conditioning coordinator at Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy in Wheeling, W. Va. From there he moved on to become an assistant women's basketball coach at Duquesne University for the 2006-07 season.

The West family includes his wife Wuela and their two children, son Tyson, age 10, and daughter Braedyn, age seven. The family will be re-locating to the Philadelphia area this fall.