Cowboy Basketball: Oklahoma State Adds Strength Coach Gavin Roberts from UConn

Steve Lutz is adding someone with two national championship rings to his support staff.

Oklahoma State announced Monday the program has hired Gavin Roberts as the Cowboys’ new strength coach. Roberts has been at UConn in a director of sports performance role since 2021, being a part of the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament wins in 2023 and 2024. Roberts was responsible for all aspects of strength, conditioning, nutrition and wellness for the UConn men’s program.

Lutz is also familiar with Roberts, as they were both on Matt Painter’s staff at Purdue. Roberts was the Boilermakers’ strength coach the three seasons before he went to UConn, while Lutz was at Purdue from 2017-21. Roberts worked at Western Michigan before that.

“Gavin has been part of championship-level programs and understands what it takes to prepare players to perform at their best,” Lutz said. “I saw that firsthand when we worked together at Purdue. He brings energy, expertise and a very intentional approach to developing athletes, and he will be a tremendous resource for our players.”

UConn and Purdue went a combined 209-73 with Roberts on staff.

Some guys Roberts worked with in that stretch include Zach Edey, Jaden Ivey, Jordan Hawkins, Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle.

Roberts played football at Purdue. He was a defensive back for the Boilermakers, graduating in 2013 with a degree in health and fitness before earning his master’s in technology leadership and innovation in 2015.

He hails from Somerset, New Jersey, playing football and basketball at Franklin High School.

Roberts will be tasked with strengthening a new-look squad for the Cowboys. Only four players (Kanye Clary, Benjamin Ahmed, Ryan Crotty and Mekhi Ragland) return from last season’s roster. Meanwhile, the group is adding four freshmen (Jalen Montonati, Latrell Allmond, Parker Robinson and Anthony Felesi) and has six incoming transfers (Luka Bogavac, Kashie Natt, Jacob Walker, Andrija Grbovic, Julius Halaifonua and Joran Burks) as of writing.

“I’m excited to be at Oklahoma State and to work alongside Coach Lutz and this staff,” Roberts said. “This program has great tradition, and I’m ready to help our players build the daily standard that it takes to win.”