Former NBA player Mark Madsen moves into coaching ranks with D-League's LA D-Fenders

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Former pro player Mark Madsen is moving into the coaching ranks with the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA's D-League.

He will be the team's head coach, replacing Reggie Theus, who left to become coach at Cal State Northridge. The hiring was announced Monday.

Madsen was an assistant for Stanford's men's team last season. He helped the Cardinal to four straight NCAA appearances and the 1998 Final Four during his college career. He was an assistant for the D-League's Utah Flash in 2009-10.

Madsen played nine years in the NBA, including three with the Los Angeles Lakers, including back-to-back league titles in 2001 and 2002.

Besides earning his bachelor's degree from Stanford, Madsen earned his MBA in public management from there last June.