TALLAHASSEE – Derwin Kitchen, a three-year starter on three of Florida State’s NCAA Tournament teams, has been named as assistant coach/player development at his alma mater by first-year Florida State head men’s basketball coach Luke Loucks. He was a starter on Florida State’s 2011 team which advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and on three Seminoles teams that finished in the top four of the ACC standings during his career.

While he played just three seasons as a Seminole (2009-11), he ranks in the top-25 of three different career statistical categories: assists (308 career assists, 18^th), steals (133 career steals, tied for 19^th), and games started (82 career starts, tied for 24^th).

“We are extremely excited to welcome Derwin Kitchen back to the Florida State Basketball program as an assistant coach specializing in player development,” said Loucks. “Derwin was a very successful professional basketball player following a great career at Florida State where he played in three NCAA Tournaments. More importantly, Derwin’s character, work ethic, and ability to build authentic relationships will be a representation of what means most to our program. He will be a strong asset to me and our staff as a connector, teacher of the game, and mentor for our roster.”

Kitchen earned his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary social studies from Florida State on April 30, 2011 after leading the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournaments in 2009 (first round), 2010 (first round), 2011 (NCAA Sweet 16) and to 70 overall victories in during his career. He helped lead Florida State to the ACC Tournament championship game in 2009 for the first time in school history.

Kitchen averaged 8.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 steals in 91 games as a Seminole. He averaged his career-high of 10.4 points, a career-high 5.8 rebounds,  and a career-high 1.6 steals as a senior in 2011.

With Kitchen in Florida State’s starting line-up, the Seminoles were the third winningest program in the ACC in both overall games and ACC games only from 2009-11.

“I am extremely excited to begin my collegiate coaching career at Florida State,” said Kitchen. “Florida State is where I played collegiately and earned my degree so it has a special place in my heart. I’d like to thank Coach Loucks who was one of my teammates when I was a Seminole player for this incredible opportunity. The opportunity Coach Loucks has given me is certainly a dream come true and I will make the most of it.”

Kitchen played in nine victories over ranked teams including two teams – No. 1 ranked North Carolina in 2009 and No. 1 ranked Duke in 2011 – who were ranked No. 1 at the time of the game. The Seminoles’ victory over No. 1 ranked North Carolina sent Florida State to the championship game of the 2009 ACC Tournament for the first time in school history. During the 2011 NCAA Tournament, he led Florida State to consecutive wins over ranked teams — No. 20 Texas A&M and No. 5 Notre Dame. The Seminoles’ wins over the Aggies and the Fighting Irish were wins against the highest ranked teams the Seminoles had defeated in the NCAA Tournament since 1972 when they advanced to the NCAA tournament championship game.

Kitchen was one of the top defensive guards in the ACC and was a big reason why Florida State was one of the top defensive teams in all of college basketball during his career. His play helped Florida State lead the nation in field goal percentage defense in both 2010 and 2011 and rank in the top 25 in field goal percentage defense, blocked shots, steals, and 3-point field goal percentage defense in leading the Seminoles to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2011.

Following his career as a Seminole, he played professionally in Greece, Israel, France, and Turkey for eight years. He played in the NBA Summer League with the Denver Nuggets in 2012.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Kitchen graduated from Raines High School in 2005. He was a First-Team All-State selection and was the runner-up for the title of Mr. Basketball in the state of Florida during his senior season.

Florida State opens its regular season on November 4, 2025 at the Donald L. Tucker Center.