THOMAS ASSEMBLY CENTER

The Tac Facts

Full Name: Samuel M. Thomas Assembly Center

Nickname: The TAC

Year opened: 1982

Cost: $17.5 million Capacity: 8,000

Floor: Karl Malone Court (installed 2007)

Largest Crowd: 8,825 (Jan. 14, 1984 vs. ULM)

First Game: Dec. 4, 1982 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Longest Home Winning Streak: 40 (1982-85)

Undefeated Home Seasons: 7 (last in 2014-15)

156-18

Home record since February of 2012 (.897) (7th highest winning percentage in the nation during that span behind only Belmont, New Mexico State, South Dakota State, Kansas, Gonzaga, and Kentucky)

432-110

All-time record (.797) (Win No. 400 in the TAC took place on Dec. 3, 2020)

198-21

All-time non-conference record (.904) (95-5 since the 2008-09 season)

72-13

All-time C-USA record (.847) (highest winning percentage of any C-USA team since joining league in 2013-14)

65-9

Home record since 2018-19 season (.878)

TAC Yearly Records

Non-Conf. Conf. Overall Average Year Record Record Record Attn. 1982-83 6-1 6-0 12-1 3,605 1983-84 8-0 6-0 14-0 3,663 1984-85 8-0 6-0 14-0 5,009 1985-86 6-1 4-2 10-3 3,176 1986-87 7-1 5-0 12-1 3,269 Southland 1987-88 7-0 5-0 12-0 2,528 1988-89 6-0 4-1 10-1 3,224 1989-90 5-0 5-0 10-0 4,006 1990-91 4-0 5-1 9-1 2,781 ASC 1991-92 5-1 8-0 13-1 2,781 1992-93 1-1 2-7 3-8 3,352 1993-94 2-1 0-9 2-10 2,096 1994-95 3-0 6-3 9-3 1,243 1995-96 3-0 4-5 7-5 2,816 1996-97 1-2 6-3 7-5 2,000 1997-98 2-2 7-2 9-4 1,795 1998-99 2-0 7-0 9-0 1,852 1999-00 3-0 7-1 10-1 1,810 2000-01 4-0 5-3 9-3 2,235 Sun Belt 2001-02 6-0 7-2 13-2 1,903 2002-03 3-1 6-3 9-4 2,896 2003-04 4-0 4-5 8-5 2,191 2004-05 2-0 6-3 8-3 2,323 2005-06 4-0 6-2 10-2 2,788 2006-07 1-2 6-2 7-4 2,233 2007-08 2-3 3-5 5-8 1,316 2008-09 4-0 4-4 8-4 2,227 2009-10 6-0 6-2 12-2 2,438 2010-11 6-0 2-6 8-6 2,168 2011-12 8-0 3-4 11-4 3,165 2012-13 5-0 9-0 14-0 3,531 WAC 2013-14 6-1 8-0 14-1 4,186 2014-15 8-0 9-0 17-0 4,243 2015-16 8-0 8-1 16-1 3,856 2016-17 7-1 8-1 15-2 2,942 2017-18 5-2 6-3 11-5 3,448 2018-19 7-0 8-1 15-1 2,564 2019-20 7-0 8-1 15-1 2,639

2020-21 7-0 8-1 15-1 1,200 2021-22 7-0 6-3 13-3 2,704 2022-23 4-1 3-2 7-3 2,588 C-USA

We Are Louisiana Tech

University

HISTORy

What They Are Saying About Talvin Hester

MARK ADAMS, TEXAS TECH HEAD COACH

“Coach Hester was invaluable to the success of our program last year. I have no doubt that his 20 years of college experience and extraordinary passion for LA Tech make shim a perfect fit to lead the program.”

ERIC KONKOL, TULSA HEAD COACH

“Talvin has been a part of tremendous programs across many levels of basketball during his career. He was an integral part of ours at LA Tech as a coach, mentor to the players, and member of the community. Talvin has a terrific basketball mind, is an outstanding recruiter, and is a winner. I am very happy for Talvin, Jamieka, and Rhyan on their return to Ruston.”

alvin brooks, lamar head coach

“Talvin Hester is the complete package. He possesses a great understanding of the game, is a tremendous teacher and recruiter, leader of people and has the ability to develop special relationships with his players. He is a wonderful role model for young men and a winner.”

kelvin sampson, houston head coach

“This is a grand slam hire for Louisiana Tech. Talvin’s work ethic, his unbelievable communication skills, his temperament, his connectivity with the players, it was just a matter of time before he became a head coach. I applaud LA Tech for this hire.”

paul mills, oral roberts head coach

“Talvin’s experience, knowledge, and genuine love of people provide a unique combination for a leader in college basketball. Talvin is the total package. He is a winner in every facet. His handprints are all over each program he has been involved with as an assistant and he has left each of those programs better due to his involvement. Great things are in store for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs are in great hands.”

armoni brooks, nba guard

“Coach Hester is a great coach but an even better person. I have known him for years and he cares about his players off the court almost more than on the court. He is going to make sure his team plays hard and plays together while making sure that he teaches life lessons off the court.”