Theo Robertson: A possibility for head coach at Cal?

Theo Robertson has been mentioned as part of the pool of Cal basketball head coach candidates who are currently in the pro ranks. As a forward at Cal, Robertson averaged 10.4 points per game from 2005-2010 and shot a fantastic 44% on three-pointers. He received a medical redshirt for the 2007-08 campaign after suffering an injury. By the time his senior season arrived, Robertson was scoring 14.2 points and pulling down 4.7 rebounds per game. Robertson was an integral part of the team that won the 2010 Pac-10 regular season title for the first time in 50 years. The Bears finished with a 24-11 record including 13-5 in conference, and Robertson was named to the conference’s second team.

After a stint working for the Pac-12 conference, Robertson was named graduate manager at Cal in 2012 and would later become director of operations. That provided a bridge to his next position as video intern for the Golden State Warriors during their championship season of 2014-15. Even in his first season, he worked one-on-one with rehabbing guard Shaun Livingston, who became an important piece of the Warriors’ puzzle.

He remained with the team for the 2015-16 campaign as video coordinator/player development. The new title gave him the chance to sit courtside for the team’s games. That season, the Warriors boasted a 73-9 record and made another Finals appearance. Robertson reflected on the experience: “You take bits and pieces from everybody, and I think you’d be a fool not to. You’re watching the way Steph (Curry) works out.” Livingston described him as a calming presence around the team. Robertson also came away impressed by the passion of forward Draymond Green.

Now 30 years of age, Robertson is a player development coach with the Los Angeles Lakers under head coach Luke Walton. His experience breaking down game film is evident. Robertson got the chance to coach the team for part of Summer League. According to Robertson, his mission is to “teach them how to play basketball the right way — or at least the way we see it and the way we feel it should be played.” He enjoys participating in practice sessions, but joked that three hip surgeries limit the extent to which he can keep up with the young Lakers on the court.

If he stayed healthy, Robertson most likely would have played professional ball. He has nonetheless enjoyed a lot of experiences thanks to basketball, including Golden State’s visit to the White House last February. He was born in Pittsburg and attended De La Salle High in Concord, so Robertson has Bay Area ties beyond his involvement with Cal.

At first glance, Robertson would seem like a bold choice for the Cal program. To be fair, he’s not all that much younger than Dennis Gates, who seems to be one of the front runners for the position. Robertson is well known in the Bay Area and has gotten valuable hands-on experience with professional talent. Those factors alone could make him a dark horse candidate to lead the Bears next season.