Mark Madsen: Mormon Athlete
Mark Ellsworth Madsen is an American basketball coach and retired professional basketball player. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Madsen was born on January 28, 1976 in Walnut Creek, California. Following his graduation from San Ramon Valley High School, he served a full-time mission to Spain. He attended Stanford University where he played NCAA basketball. He helped the Cardinals make it to four NCAA tournaments. He was a two-time All-American and a two-time All-Pac-10. He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics.
Madsen lead the United States to a gold medal at the 1999 World University Games and was named to the roster for the 2001 Goodwill Games.
He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of 2000. During 2003–2004, he played as a free agent for the Minnesota Timberwolves and played for them through 2009. In July 2009, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. One month later he was waived by the Clippers.
Madsen began his coaching career when he became the assistant coach for the D-League Utah Flash. From 2010 to 2012, Madsen was enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business and earned his MBA degree with a certificate in Public Management. In 2012 he was hired by Stanford to be an assistant coach, then in May 2013 he was named head coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders (a Development-League team owned by the Los Angeles Lakers). In July of that year he was promoted to a player development coaching position assisting former Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni and was an associate head coach with the team’s Las Vegas Summer League team. He also played a strong role in drafting for the Lakers. Madsen is expected to stay with the Lakers under new coach Byron Scott.
During his NBA career, he was a two-time NBA champion with the Lakers (2001 and 2002).
He lives in the Westwood area of California.
