San Diego tabs Iowa State assistant JR Blount as new coach

(Photo credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

San Diego hired well-respected Iowa State assistant JR Blount as its new head coach, the school announced Monday.

Blount replaces Steve Lavin, who was fired last month before finishing out a 12-21 season at the West Coast Conference school.

Blount, 38, has been part of four straight NCAA Tournament teams at