On Monday, Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka officially announced his staff for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA season. Joining the team as assistant coaches are Ben Sullivan, Royal Ivey, Garrett Jackson, Tiago Splitter, Cam Hodges, and Mike Moser.
Sullivan was an assistant coach with Boston the past two seasons, including on Udoka’s staff in 2021-22. Prior to joining the Celtics, Sullivan spent seven seasons as an assistant on Mike Budenholzer’s staff in both Atlanta and Milwaukee and helped the Bucks win the championship in 2020-21. Sullivan began his NBA career as an assistant video coordinator with San Antonio after being recommended by Udoka, who was an assistant with the Spurs.
Ivey joins the Rockets from Brooklyn, where he spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach, including alongside Udoka on Steve Nash’s staff in 2020-21. After finishing his 10-year NBA career, Ivey became an assistant coach for Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate, the Blue. He eventually transitioned into an assistant coach for the Thunder and was also an assistant coach with his hometown Knicks. Ivey completed his career at the University of Texas as the school’s all-time leader in starts.
Jackson spent the past two seasons as a player enhancement coach for Boston. The Portland native played overseas following his collegiate career at USC and Saint Mary’s. Jackson was a graduate manager for Hawaii men’s team in 2018-19 before taking an internship with the Spurs’ video department.
Splitter spent the past four seasons as an assistant coach with the Nets and worked alongside Udoka in 2020-21. Following a standout playing career in Spain, Splitter joined the Spurs in 2010-11 and started 18 playoff games during their championship run in 2013-14. He has been an assistant coach for the Brazilian national team and served as head coach of their under-23 squad.
Hodges was a coaching associate for the Los Angeles Clippers for the past three seasons after serving as player development coach for Philadelphia in 2019-20 when Udoka was an assistant. He also worked three seasons as a player development assistant for the Spurs. Hodges, who served eight years in the U.S. Army Reserve, played overseas before interning with the Erie Bayhawks in the G League.
Moser was a player enhancement coach for Boston last season after serving as an assistant coach for the Oregon Ducks women’s team in 2021-22. As a redshirt senior for Oregon, he earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention. Moser played overseas for several years with stops in Lithuania, Israel, Kosovo, Qatar, Finland, and France.
