Steve Roberts, who is no stranger to the Lander basketball program, returns for his 10th year as an assistant coach.

A four-year letterman (1980-84), he graduated in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. While playing for Lander University, the then-Senators averaged 19 wins a season. Roberts is currently third in most games played in a career at Lander with 125 games.

Roberts is beginning his 25th year of coaching at the collegiate level. He started his career as a graduate assistant at Winthrop University under Neill Gordon for two years. Roberts coached at North Greenville College for one season before joining the staff at then-USC Spartanburg. In 1990-91, the Rifles advanced to the NAIA National Tournament and finished 5th in the country with a record of 29-3. The following season of 1991-92, Roberts helped lead the Rifles to the first inaugural Peach Belt Championship, a berth to the NCAA Tournament and a No. 7 final national ranking. After four seasons at USCS, Roberts worked as a Lander assistant for his former coach, Finis Horne.

Since 1994, Roberts has had the opportunity to be an assistant coach at Mars Hill College, Coastal Carolina University and Campbell University before returning to Mars Hill in 1999 as the head coach. After three seasons at Mars Hill, Roberts returned to Lander as an assistant for Coach Chipper Bagwell. Roberts has the distinction of being the only person to work for all four head coaches in the history of men's basketball program at Lander.

"I am thankful to be a part of Lander athletics and it's basketball program," said Roberts. "Being associated with Lander for 25 years, I see it as an opportunity for me and my family to be at a place that has good people, a good basketball tradition and excellent community support."

Roberts credits Coach Horne and his former high school coach, Harvey Tankersley, as his biggest influences in his career.

"Both of these coaches passed on to me a great deal of knowledge of the game, but also stressed the importance of an education," said Roberts.

The Greenville native is married to the former Dana Lam of Waynesboro, Va. and they have two children, Matthew, 16, and Luke, 14.