Sam Worthen enters his third season with the Iona College men's basketball program. Worthen joined the staff after an outstanding playing and coaching career in the professional ranks.
Most recently, Worthen served as assistant coach of the Fayetteville Patriots of the National Basketball Development League (NBDL). A native of Brooklyn, NY, Worthen was an All-American point guard at Marquette from 1978-80, leading the Warriors in assists as a junior and scoring and assists as a senior. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 1980 NBA Draft and played two seasons in the NBA with the Bulls (1980-81) and the Utah Jazz (1981-82). Worthen started his coaching career in 1985 as a player/coach of the Springfield Fame of the USBL, helping guide the squad to the league title.
Three years later, he helped propel the New Haven Skyhawks to the 1988 USBL Championship. He has also served as head coach of the Albany Patroons (CBA), Miami Tropics (USBL; 1987 Champions), New York Whitecaps (USBL), Harrisburg Hammerheads (CBA), Fort Wayne Fury (CBA), Long Island Surf (USBL), Brooklyn Kings (USBL), and Baltimore Bayrunners (IBL).
In August, 2003 - 23 years after leaving Marquette for the NBA - Worthen completed his undergraduate degree from Marquette’s College of Communication. He and his wife Florine reside in the Bronx.
