LOS ANGELES >> Reggie Theus has taken over as Cal State Northridge basketball coach, thrilled to be back in the college ranks where he had his greatest success as a player and a coach.

The former UNLV star who later guided New Mexico State to the NCAA tournament was introduced to an enthusiastic crowd on Friday in the 1,600-seat Matadome, where he promises the Matadors will play an up-tempo style with full-court pressure defense as “the hardest playing team in the conference.”

Theus succeeds Bobby Braswell, who was fired March 17 after 17 years that included three 20-win seasons, two NCAA tournament appearances and a 251-258 record at the Big West school.

Theus had been coaching the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA’s D-League since October 2011. But he never stopped trying to get another college head coaching job.