STAFF returns to DePaul after leading the Blue Demons to three postseason appearances from 2002- 05 that included a 2004 Conference USA regular-season title.

2015-16 DEPAUL 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL DAVE

HEADLEITAO COACH @COACHDLEITAO 4TH SEASON AT DEPAUL 10TH SEASON OVERALL When DePaul University was searching for a coach with the pedi- gree and experience for success in the , a familiar face rose to the top of the search list in Dave Leitao. The New Bedford, Mass., native is back at DePaul after leading the Blue Demons to three postseason appearances in his three seasons in Lincoln Park. Leitao was named the 14th head coach in program history on March 29, 2015 and is back at DePaul to take care of what he describes as ‘unfinished business.’ In his first stint with the Blue Demons he turned a nine-win team into a 16-win squad that laid the foundation for success over his initial stint at DePaul. Inheriting a team that failed to qualify for its own league tournament the season prior to his arrival, Leitao led DePaul to the program’s first postseason bid in three years (NIT) and 16 wins, a seven-win improvement. Eight of the 16 victories in his first year came in Conference USA play, which was the third best C-USA victory total in the program’s history. DePaul also beat ninth-ranked Louisville in an overtime thriller at the in March. The 16 wins are the second-highest total for a DePaul coach in his first sea- son with the Blue Demons that trails only Ray and who each won 19 in their rookie seasons.

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Leitao also put the “D” back in DePaul as the of 58-34 that included 44 victories over his final Blue Demons held opponents to 64.9 points per two seasons. In addition to the 2004 squad game, only the third time over the previous 20 reaching the NCAA second round, that team also years that a DePaul team has held opponents claimed the C-USA regular-season championship under 65 . before falling in the championship game of the DePaul also excelled off the court as well dur- conference tournament. ing Leitao’s first season in 2002-03. Three Blue De- Leitao’s recruiting success at DePaul saw the mons were named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Blue Demons sign three eventual NBA Draft picks Academic Honor Roll, the most by a DePaul men’s in Wilson Chandler, Sammy Mejia and Dorell team since the 1993-94 academic year. Wright. The 2003-04 campaign turned into one of the Chandler played two seasons at DePaul (2005- most magical in the storied history of the program. 07) before he was selected as the 23rd pick in Consider some of the highlights. DePaul returned 2007 by the New York Knicks. Mejia played four to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years at DePaul (2003-07) and was also picked in years and earned the program’s highest seed the 2007 draft as the 57th selection by the Detroit since 1992. The Blue Demons won their first NCAA Pistons. Wright signed his NLI with DePaul, but Tournament game since 1989 and were eliminated elected to enter the 2004 draft and he was the by the eventual national champion in the second 19th overall selection by the Miami Heat. round. The Blue Demons were one of the nation’s Prior to his first stint at DePaul, Leitao was as- hottest teams down the stretch, winning 15 of sociate head coach at Connecticut for six seasons their last 18 contests to finish the season with 22 and helped the Huskies win the 1999 NCAA Cham- wins, the most victories by a DePaul team since pionship. He was also head coach at Northeastern 1987-88 and the most over the last 10 years since. from 1994-96. After starting league play 0-2, the Blue Demons Before making the move to DePaul in 2002, won 12 of their last 14 regular season games and Leitao spent six seasons as the associate head claimed a share of the C-USA championship. It was coach at Connecticut. During those six campaigns, just the second conference title in DePaul history. the Huskies experienced unprecedented success Despite a five-way tie for the league title, compiling a 156-51 (.754) record highlighted by DePaul earned the top-seed at the C-USA Tourna- capturing the 1999 NCAA Championship with a ment and reached the championship game of thrilling 77-74 victory over Duke. He also helped the league’s tournament for the second time in guide the Huskies to three other appearances in the program’s history. The Blue Demons also set the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight school records for conference wins in a season twice and the second round once. Connecticut (12) and conference road wins (6). also reached the NIT semifinals and NIT second C-USA honored Blue Demon players with the round in that time span. league’s Player of the Week honor four times Leitao got Connecticut’s run to the 1999 NCAA during the season and DePaul had two players title off on the right foot when he filled in for head (Delonte Holland and Andre Brown) earn All- coach , who had taken ill prior to the Conference USA honors and one (Sammy Mejia) game, in the 91-66 opening round win over Texas- gain mention on the league’s All-Freshman team. San Antonio. The success wasn’t limited to the playing floor. Leitao spent two seasons as the head coach It also came in the class room as the Blue Demons at his alma mater, Northeastern. In his first year boasted their first CoSIDA/Academic All-District (1994-95), he directed the Huskies to a record of player (Drake Diener) since 1992 and placed two 18-11, which was the biggest one-season turn- players on the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic around in the nation, and into the North Atlantic Honor Roll. Diener was also the league’s Scholar- Conference Tournament Championship game. He Athlete of the Year. compiled an overall two-year record at Northeast- Success was no stranger in year three of the ern of 22-35. Leitao era at DePaul as the Blue Demons posted Leitao played an integral role in the build- their second consecutive 20-win season and a ing of Connecticut basketball into the nationally third-consecutive postseason berth. Both ac- regarded program that it is today. As an assistant complishments occurred for the first time since coach for eight seasons (1986-94) in Storrs, the the early 1990’s. DePaul won 10 C-USA games and Huskies posted a record of 162-91 (.640), made beat a pair of top 25 teams. DePaul placed two four appearances in the NCAA Tournament and players on the All-Conference USA team including won the 1988 NIT Championship. the first first-team pick since 2000 in Quemont Leitao was instrumental in highly success- Greer. ful recruiting efforts at Connecticut, which put a Over his three seasons, he compiled a record number of talented student-athletes in Huskie uni-

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DAVE LEITAO YEAR-BY-YEAR Year School Position Record Postseason 1984-85 Northeastern Assistant Coach 22-9 NCAA First Round 1985-86 Northeastern Assistant Coach 26-5 NCAA First Round 1986-87 Connecticut Assistant Coach 9-19 1987-88 Connecticut Assistant Coach 20-14 NIT Champions 1988-89 Connecticut Assistant Coach 18-13 NIT Quarterfinals 1989-90 Connecticut Assistant Coach 31-6 NCAA Elite Eight 1990-91 Connecticut Assistant Coach 20-11 NCAA Sweet 16 1991-92 Connecticut Assistant Coach 20-10 NCAA Second Round 1992-93 Connecticut Assistant Coach 15-13 NIT First Round 1993-94 Connecticut Assistant Coach 29-5 NCAA Sweet 16 1994-95 Northeastern Head Coach 18-11 1995-96 Northeastern Head Coach 4-24 2 seasons 22-35 1996-97 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 18-15 NIT Semifinals 1997-98 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 32-5 NCAA Elite Eight 1998-99 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 34-2 NCAA Champions 1999-00 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 25-10 NCAA Second Round 2000-01 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 20-12 NIT Second Round 2001-02 Connecticut Associate Head Coach 27-7 NCAA Elite Eight 2002-03 DePaul Head Coach 16-13 NIT First Round 2003-04 DePaul Head Coach 22-10 NCAA Second Round 2004-05 DePaul Head Coach 20-11 NIT Second Round 3 seasons 58-34 2005-06 Virginia Head Coach 15-15 NIT First Round 2006-07 Virginia Head Coach 21-11 NCAA Second Round 2007-08 Virginia Head Coach 17-16 CBI Semifinal 2008-09 Virginia Head Coach 10-18 4 seasons 63-60 2012-13 Missouri Assistant Coach 23-11 NCAA Second Round 2013-14 Missouri Assistant Coach 23-12 NIT Second Round 2014-15 Tulsa Assistant Coach 23-11 NIT Second Round Overall Totals (28 seasons) 578-319 Head Coach Totals (9 seasons) 143-129 forms including Chris Smith, Scott Burrell, Donyell appearance in his first season, Virginia shared Marshall, Donny Marshall and Ray Allen. the ACC title with North Carolina and Leitao was Leitao joined Calhoun’s coaching staff as an named ACC Coach of the Year and the NABC Dis- assistant at Northeastern in the fall of 1984 and trict 5 Coach of the Year. The 2006-07 season saw spent two seasons at the Boston school. With the Cavaliers picked eighth in the ACC preseason him on the bench, the Huskies reached the NCAA poll before Leitao led Virginia to a share of the Tournament in both seasons (1985 and 1986) league title with North Carolina and record the and compiled a record of 48-14 (.774). He then most conference wins with 11 since the 1994-95 followed Calhoun to Connecticut in the spring of campaign. Virginia reached the second round of 1986. the 2007 NCAA Tournament for the program’s Leitao began a long-term playing and working first tournament appearance since 2001 and first relationship with Calhoun as a four-year standout tournament victory since 1995. In addition to his at Northeastern from 1978-82. With Leitao on the accolades, he also tutored eventual NBA Draft pick floor, the Huskies sported a sparkling record of . Singletary earned All-American 79-34 (.699) and reached the NCAA Tournament honors and was the 42nd overall pick of the 2008 in both 1981 and 1982. During his senior season, draft by the . he helped the Huskies to the second round of the Most recently, Leitao was an assistant coach tournament with a 63-62 win over St. Joseph’s at Missouri and Tulsa under . Missouri before bowing out to Villanova 76-71 in a triple- posted back-to-back 20-win seasons in his time overtime classic. In that game, Leitao played a in Columbia that included one NCAA and one NIT total of 54 minutes. appearance. Last season at Tulsa, Leitao helped Following the 2004-05 season at DePaul, Leitao the Golden Hurricane to 23 wins and a NIT berth. accepted the head coach position at Virginia and Following the 2014-15 season, Leitao was ranked led the Cavaliers for four seasons. After a NIT No. 20 in the Basketball Times list of the top 50

64 | STAFF 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL assistant coaches in the nation. six postseason tournaments including advancing Leitao joins women’s basketball coach Doug to the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Bruno as coaches who left DePaul programs and both DePaul (2004) and Virginia (2007). returned. Bruno led the Blue Demons from 1976- Leitao, 55, graduated from Northeastern in 78 before returning to his alma mater in 1988. 1983 with bachelor’s degree in business admin- Since returning, Bruno has led the program to 20 istration. He and his wife Joyce are the proud NCAA Tournament appearances. parents of three sons, David III, Reese and Tyson. In nine career seasons as a collegiate head David is a junior forward at DePaul sitting out this coach, Leitao holds a record of 143-129. Of the season as a transfer. nine seasons as a head coach, he has led teams to DAVE LEITAO VS. ALL OPPONENTS UAB...... 2-3 Maryland-Eastern Shore...... 1-0 Albany...... 1-0 Memphis...... 1-1 American...... 1-0 Miami (Fla.)...... 2-3 Appalachian State...... 0-1 Michigan State...... 0-1 Arizona...... 2-1 Minnesota...... 0-1 Auburn...... 0-1 Missouri...... 1-0 Boston College...... 3-3 Morgan State...... 1-0 Boston University...... 2-3 UNLV...... 0-1 Bowling Green State...... 1-0 New Hampshire...... 1-4 Bradley...... 2-2 New Orleans...... 0-1 Brown...... 1-0 Niagara...... 1-1 Central Michigan...... 1-0 North Carolina...... 1-7 Charlotte...... 1-3 UNC Asheville...... 1-0 State...... 1-0 North Carolina State...... 3-3 Cincinnati...... 3-4 Northern ...... 1-1 Clemson...... 3-3 Northwestern...... 3-1 Connecticut...... 0-3 Notre Dame...... 1-2 Dayton...... 2-0 Ohio...... 2-0 Delaware...... 1-3 Old Dominion...... 2-0 Drexel...... 2-4 Pennsylvania...... 1-0 Duke...... 1-6 Puerto Rico-Mayaguez...... 1-0 East Carolina...... 4-0 Purdue...... 0-1 Eastern Illinois...... 1-0 Radford...... 1-0 Elon...... 1-0 Rhode Island...... 1-2 Fairfield...... 1-0 Richmond...... 2-0 Florida International...... 2-1 St. Joseph’s...... 0-1 Florida State...... 1-5 Saint Louis...... 3-3 Fordham...... 0-1 Seton Hall...... 1-2 Georgia Tech...... 3-3 Siena...... 1-0 Gonzaga...... 1-1 USF...... 3-1 Hampton...... 3-0 Southeast Missouri State...... 1-0 Hartford...... 3-3 Southern Miss...... 3-0 Hofstra...... 4-1 Stanford...... 0-2 Houston...... 3-0 Syracuse...... 0-2 Howard...... 3-0 Tennessee...... 0-1 UIC...... 1-0 Texas A&M...... 0-1 Indiana State...... 1-0 TCU...... 4-0 IUPUI...... 1-0 Toledo...... 0-1 Iona...... 1-0 Towson...... 0-2 Liberty...... 1-1 Tulane...... 3-0 Longwood...... 4-0 Utah...... 0-1 Louisville...... 2-2 Vermont...... 3-3 Loyola-Chicago...... 2-0 Virginia Tech...... 5-4 Loyola (Md.)...... 1-0 VMI...... 1-0 Maine...... 3-1 Wake Forest...... 2-3 Marist...... 0-2 Western Carolina...... 1-0 Marquette...... 2-4 Western Kentucky...... 0-1 Maryland...... 4-4 Xavier...... 0-2 UMBC...... 1-0 2015-16 opponents or potential opponents in bold

STAFF | 65 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL RICK

ASSOCIATECARTER HEAD COACH @RICKCARTER23 1ST SEASON AT DEPAUL Rick Carter joined the DePaul coaching staff in April 2015 as the program’s associate head coach after spending the last two seasons at BIG EAST member Xavier. As an assistant coach at Xavier for the last two seasons, Carter primarily served as a Midwest recruiter and helped the coaching staff sign a recruiting class ranked among the nation’s top 20. Prior to working on ’s staff, he was at Missouri (2012-13), Western Michigan (2008-12) and Fairfield (2006-08). Carter also worked as a gradu- ate assistant at his alma mater, Michigan State, from 2003-06 and helped the Spartans reach three NCAA Tournaments including the 2005 Final Four. Carter is known as a high-energy coach that is a tireless worker both on the court and on the recruit- ing trail. The Grand Blanc, Mich., native also worked with current Providence coach Ed Cooley as the director of basketball operations and assistant coach at Fairfield for two seasons. He played a key role in several areas during his year at Missouri on a staff that also featured Dave Leitao and Bryan Tibaldi. Carter’s priorities with the Tigers included skill development, scouting and recruiting while helping Missouri reach the NCAA Tournament. Carter helped develop the likes of Phil Pressey and Alex Oriakhi, while being a key part of gathering a nationally-ranked 2013 recruiting class that included Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkston. Carter came to Mizzou following a four-year stint at Western Michigan University and boasts strong ties to the Michigan high school and AAU circuits. During his four seasons at Western Michigan from 2008-12, Carter helped develop the Broncos all-time leading scorer, David Kool. Named Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan as a high school senior, Carter coached Kool at the AAU level and the standout twice led the Mid-American Conference in scoring and he was named MAC Player of the Year and an All- American as a senior in 2010, averaging 21.6 points per game. Kool was the MAC’s Freshman of the Year in 2007 and was named the MAC Player of the Decade by Rivals.com. Overall WMU won a pair of MAC West titles during Carter’s four seasons and advanced to postseason play in 2011 with a 21-13 overall mark. He got his start in the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Michigan State, under Tom Izzo from 2003-06, helping to coordinate several aspects of the Spartan’s day-to-day operations, including video exchange, practice planning, scouting operations and the academic support program. Michigan State advanced to the 2005 NCAA Final Four during his second season and the Spartans quali- fied for three consecutive NCAA Tournaments in his three years. Following his stint in East Lansing, Mich., Carter spent two seasons working for Ed Cooley (now head coach at Providence) at Fairfield. In his first season, 2006-07, Carter served as the Director of Basketball Operations before he was elevated to a full-time assistant coach in 2007-08. That season saw the Stags finish fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with an 11-7 league record. The Stags finished above .500 in (MAAC) league play each season with Carter on staff, marking just the seventh and eighth times that had occurred in program history. Carter began his coaching career with the Michigan Mustangs in 2000. He spent four seasons with the AAU powerhouse (2000-03, 2006) and in addition to coaching Kool, he also coached Atlanta Hawks stand- out Al Horford and former Michigan State star Drew Neitzel. A native of Grand Blanc, Mich., Carter graduated from Michigan State in 2002 with a degree in busi- ness management.

66 | STAFF 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL BILLY

ASSISTANTGARRETT COACH @COACHBGARRETT 7TH SEASON AT DEPAUL DePaul assistant coach Billy Garrett joined the program in May 2009 and holds over a decade of experience at the collegiate, high school and AAU levels of basketball. Garrett returned to Chicago to join ’s staff and remained on the staff under and Dave Leitao. In his six seasons in Lincoln Park, Garrett has re-established Chicago recruiting roots for the Blue Demons with nine players on the 2015-16 roster from the Chicagoland area. On the floor, Garrett assisted in the daily development of the roster including BIG EAST Rookies of the Year Cleveland Melvin and Billy Garrett Jr. and BIG EAST All-Rookie Team honoree Tommy Hamilton IV and Brandon Young. The 2011-12 campaign saw continued improvement as the Blue Demons trended upward in victories, points per game and steals per game. DePaul’s 74.1 scoring average was its highest mark since the 1994- 95 season while the 7.9 steals per game were the most since the 2002-03 campaign. DePaul put together the longest winning streak in nearly a decade in 2012-13 and increased its total to 8.3 per game. The 2013-14 season saw Billy Garrett Jr. earn the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year award as the Blue Demons finish the season strong by knocking off Georgetown in the first round of the BIG EAST Tournament. Before moving to DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus in 2009, Garrett was the associate head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for two seasons. Prior to joining the Islanders in May 2007, he was an assistant at Iowa (2006-07), Seton Hall (2001-06) and Siena (2000-01). Following his first collegiate stop with a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship at Siena, Garrett spent five seasons at BIG EAST member Seton Hall. He made two appearances in the NCAA Tour- nament and one appearance in the NIT with the Pirates. Garrett joined the Iowa staff during the 2006-07 campaign and was briefly on the staff at New Mexico before accepting the associate head coach position at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. He started his coaching career in Chicago as head basketball coach at Providence St. Mel High School from 1994-00. Garrett was also athletic director and head track and field coach while leading the basket- ball program to a 130-50 record in his six seasons. He was a four-time District Coach of the Year by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and led Providence St. Mel to four regional titles. At Providence St. Mel, he tutored former DePaul player LeVar Seals and also coached Steven Hunter while directing the Illinois Fire AAU program. Garrett coached in the Illinois Fire program from 1994-00 and also served as a coach at the ABCD Camp from 1996-00 and was a coach at the adidas International Basketball Camp in Beijing, China in 2004. The native of Indianapolis, Ind., earned his degree from the University of Indianapolis in 1991 after playing four seasons of football at Illinois State. Garrett and his wife, Annissa, have one son, Billy. Billy was named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year in 2014 and is among the top players in the conference en- tering his junior season. He arrived at DePaul after a standout career at Morgan Park High School where he led the Mustangs to a state title as a senior. Garrett’s father, Bill Garrett, is recognized as the first African-American basketball player in the Big Ten Conference. He played at Indiana for three seasons and finished his collegiate career in 1951 as the program’s all-time leading scorer. The All-American at Indiana was drafted by the Boston Celtics and he also played with the Harlem Globetrotters before becoming a Hall of Fame high school coach in Indiana.

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ASSISTANTSELLERS COACH @SELLERSANLYZNBA 1ST SEASON AT DEPAUL Patrick Sellers joined the men’s basketball program as an assistant coach in April 2015. He comes to DePaul from fellow BIG EAST mem- ber Creighton where he spent the previous two years as an assistant coach. Prior to Creighton, Sellers made collegiate coaching stops at Central Connecticut State (1999-03), Massachusetts (2003-04), Con- necticut (2004-10) and Hofstra (2011-13). In his two seasons in Omaha, Sellers helped the Bluejays transition into the BIG EAST Conference while the Bluejays lead the nation in three-pointers made, three-point percentage and /turnover ratio in his first season led by National Player of the Year – and current Chicago Bull – Doug McDermott. Before his arrival in Omaha, Sellers spent the two seasons as an assistant coach at Hofstra. In his second season with the Pride, Sellers was named the program’s interim head coach before accepting the position on the Creighton staff. Sellers worked at Connecticut from 2004-10, where he was instrumental in recruiting players such as Jeremy Lamb, Tyler Olander, Shabazz Napier and Roscoe Smith who helped form the nucleus of the 2011 and 2014 national champions. His primary on-court responsibility was working with Connecticut’s frontcourt, including future NBA players and Jeff Adrien. Between his stints at Connecticut and Hofstra, Sellers spent one season in China as an assistant coach with Shanxi Zhongyu. Prior to his time in Storrs, Sellers was an assistant coach for one season at Massachusetts (2003-04) and for four years at his alma mater, Central Connecticut State (1999-2003). While at CCSU, the Blue Devils made the NCAA Tournament in both 2000 and 2002, earning regular-season and tournament Northeast Conference titles in both years. Sellers began his coaching career in the high school ranks at St. Thomas Aquinas in New Britain, Conn. He served as an assistant for three seasons before becoming head coach in 1997. His first team won a conference title, and both his teams would advance to the state tournament. A native of South Carolina, Sellers played collegiately at Central Connecticut State, where he gradu- ated in 1991 with a degree in accounting. Sellers was a team captain and named East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1991 after leading the team in rebounding twice and finishing with 581 career rebounds. Following college, Sellers played professionally in the British Basketball League for three seasons before returning to the U.S. to begin his coaching career.

68 | STAFF 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL BRYAN TIBALDI TWITTER: @COACHTIBALDI DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS | 1ST SEASON AT DEPAUL Bryan Tibaldi joined Dave coordinator before being elevated to director of opera- Leitao’s staff in June 2015 tions in 2013. With the Tigers, Tibaldi worked with Leitao as the program’s director of from 2012-14 under head coach Frank Haith. The 2012-13 basketball operations. Tibaldi Missouri staff featured Leitao, Tibaldi and current DePaul spent the previous four sea- associate head coach Rick Carter. sons as video coordinator and The 2007 graduate of Michigan State was a two-year then director of basketball letterwinner as a walk-on for the Spartans. Following his operations at Missouri and playing days for Tom Izzo, Tibaldi was a graduate assistant handles day-to-day operations of the DePaul program. from 2007-09 and helped the Spartans to a 58-16 record The Traverse City, Mich. native returns to Chicago that included a 2009 Big Ten title before reaching the where he spent two years working for the Chicago national championship game. Bulls. Tibaldi spent the 2009-2010 season working for Tibaldi holds an undergraduate and graduate degrees the coaching staff as assistant video coordinator before from Michigan State with a B.S. degree in 2007 and a moving into the front office as a basketball operations as- M.S. degree in 2009. His mother, Patti, is a member of the sistant during the 2010-2011 season. With the Bulls front NAIA Hall of Fame, the Grand Rapids Hall of Fame and the office, he evaluated college prospects and coordinated Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame pre-draft workouts. with 700 career victories. Tibaldi started his career at Missouri as the video BABA DIALLO TWITTER: @B_DIALLO3 ASST. DIRECTOR OF BASKETBALL OPERATIONS | 1ST SEASON AT DEPAUL Baba Diallo is in his first worked with Leitao at Tulsa during the 2014-15 campaign season with the DePaul under head coach Frank Haith. The Golden Hurricane program as assistant director posted 23 wins that season while advancing to the second of basketball operations. In round of the NIT. this role, Diallo assists the He came to Tulsa after graduating from Baker Univer- coaching staff with all facets sity in Baldwin City, Kan., in May 2013 with a bachelor’s of the daily operation of degree in exercise science. He played basketball for two the program. He spent two seasons at Baker from 2011-13. Diallo completed his seasons as a graduate assistant at Tulsa prior to joining graduate degree in mathematical science at Tulsa in 2015. the Blue Demons in June 2015. Diallo, whose given name is Abdourahmane, is a na- Diallo joined the Tulsa men’s basketball program as a tive of Dakar, Senegal. graduate manager beginning with the 2013-14 season. He MATT FLEMING TWITTER: @COACH_FLEM VIDEO COORDINATOR | 5TH SEASON AT DEPAUL Matt Fleming joined the a degree in Exercise/Sport Science and Music, Fleming DePaul staff as the team’s joined the VCU staff as an assistant video coordinator. Video Coordinator in May Fleming was promoted in 2010 to video coordinator 2011. Fleming joined the De- after the position was vacated. He assisted head coach Paul staff under Oliver Purnell Shaka Smart as the Rams reached the 2011 Final Four in after spending two seasons Houston. VCU posted victories over USC, Georgetown, at VCU and remained on the Purdue, Florida State and Kansas before falling to Butler in staff during the transition to the national semifinals on their run from the First Four to Dave Leitao. the Final Four. Fleming’s primary responsibilities include the break- While at North Carolina, Fleming served as a manager down of game and practice footage for player develop- for the women’s basketball team from 2005-07 before ment and to assist with the scouting of opponents during becoming the team’s video coordinator in 2007. the season. Fleming finished his masters in Sports Leadership After graduating from North Carolina in 2009 with from VCU in December 2010.

STAFF | 69 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL JEFF CARRICO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SPORTS MEDICINE Jeff Carrico joined the DePaul is Carrico’s second stop in Chicagoland as the DePaul athletics department Cincinnati native was a graduate assistant and assistant in the summer of 2012 as director of sports medicine at Northern Illinois from 1993- an assistant director of 97. Carrico spent 10 years at Marshall University prior to sports medicine. Carrico his time at Cincinnati that included an eight-year stint as primarily works with the head athletic trainer for the Thundering Herd. men’s basketball program He is a member of the Marshall University Sports while assisting in the daily Medicine Hall of Fame and has served as a guest speaker operation with the entire athletics department. at the University of Cincinnati, the BIG EAST Conference Carrico spent the previous five years at the and Marshall University. University of Cincinnati where he worked with the men’s Carrico is a 1993 graduate of Eastern Kentucky basketball and men’s golf programs while supervising the University and resides in Chicago. He is a certified department as the assistant athletics director for sports member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and medicine. During his time at Cincinnati, he also worked the College Athletic Trainer’s Society. with women’s basketball, football, women’s golf and women’s tennis. KEVIN EDWARDS DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY, CORPORATE AND PROFESSIONAL RELATIONS Former Blue Demon and and finished his career with 995 points and led the Blue NBA veteran Kevin Edwards Demons to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances. He joined the DePaul men’s bas- averaged 14.4 points per game as a junior before posting ketball staff as the program’s a scoring average of 18.8 points per game during his director of community, corpo- senior season. In his two seasons, DePaul put together a rate and professional rela- combined record of 50-11. tions in Oct. 2010. Edwards He was selected by the Miami Heat with the 20th played two seasons for the overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft as the second ever Blue Demons from 1986-88 before an 11-year NBA career. draft pick in the franchise’s history. In his 11 NBA seasons, In his current role with the program, Edwards works he totaled 6,596 points in 604 games and retired as a as a liaison to members of the University community member of the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2001. and Chicago’s corporate community while also handling Following his NBA career, Edwards was a producer the program’s relationships with professional basketball for Extra Film Productions where he provided the funding franchises in the United States and overseas. and oversaw the production of the film “MVP” that was Edwards played two seasons at DePaul from 1986-88 accepted by the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. GREG GREENWELL TWITTER: @DEPAULSID ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR FOR COMMUNICATIONS Greg Greenwell is in coordinator for the 2006 and 2012 NCAA Women’s his 16th year at DePaul as Basketball First and Second Rounds and assistant media a member of the athletics coordinator for the 2005 NCAA Men’s Basketball Chicago communications staff Regional which were held at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. and his seventh leading Prior to joining the Blue Demons, he spent a year the department. He was as the assistant media relations director at Texas Tech promoted to associate University, where he worked with the and athletics director in volleyball programs. Greenwell also spent time working November 2015. for the , Indianapolis Colts and in the In this role, Greenwell oversees the communications Indiana University media relations department. From and publicity efforts for DePaul’s 15 intercollegiate 2005-10 he worked for MLB.com as a stats stringer at athletics programs. He was named director of athletics selected Chicago White Sox and home communications in July 2009 after serving as interim games. Additionally, he also worked in the media director over the previous six months. operations at the 2004 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields He enters his 16th year at DePaul after first serving Country Club, the 2005 World Series at U.S. Cellular Field as assistant director in July 2000. Over the last 15 and the 2007 CONCACAF Golf Cup at Soldier Field. years, he has handled the primary communications The native of Palmetto, Fla., played baseball and efforts for men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and graduated from Flagler College in 1997 with a degree in women’s soccer, golf, cross country, and track and sport management and minor in business administration. field. Additionally, he also handles the daily operation He and his wife, Jennifer, reside in the Chicago suburb of DePaul’s athletics website and served as the media of Vernon Hills with their sons, Nolan and Brady. 70 | STAFF 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL LINDA JEPSEN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Linda Jepsen is in she was the Director of Sports Services. She joined the her 13th year as the league in 1992 when it was formed as the Great Midwest administrative assistant Conference and continued her duties when C-USA was for the Blue Demon men’s born in 1996. basketball staff. In her duties at the Chicago-based conference, Jepsen is responsible for she provided executive support to the Commissioner the daily operation of the and associates, handled budgetary issues, worked on basketball office. Among her competition schedules, coordinated travel and hotel duties are handling head coach Dave Leitao’s schedule arrangements and served as a liaison to institutional staff as well as travel arrangements and general clerical and at remote locations. Jepsen got her start in athletics in administrative responsibilities for the entire coaching 1977 when she was the Administrative Assistant to the staff. Athletic Director at Oak Park River Forest High School, a In addition to her role with the men’s basketball position she held until 1992. program, Jepsen was president of DePaul’s Staff Council Jepsen, who graduated from DePaul’s School for New from 2012-14. Learning in the spring of 2008, resides in LaGrange, Ill. Jepsen joined the Blue Demons after spending 11 Linda has a son Erik and daughter Britta, who is a DePaul years as a member of the Conference USA staff, where graduate. ANDREA MOSHER-CHILDRESS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS ACADEMIC ADVISING

Andrea Mosher-Childress with her alma mater including the last two years as is in her second year at director of student-athlete development. As director, DePaul as assistant director Mosher-Childress led the life skills program for more of atheltics academic than 400 student-athletes at Illinois State while also advising. She works with building on and off-campus relationships for the athletics the men’s basketball and department. women’s tennis programs Outside of her experience at Detroit and Illinois while coordinating the tutor State, Mosher-Childress has worked at a variety of NCAA program. workshops including the NFL-NCAA Life Skills/Player Mosher-Childress comes to DePaul after stints at Development Summit in February 2001 and the NCAA Illinois State University and the University of Detroit Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in October 2010. Mercy. At Detroit from 2011-13, she worked with both She also participated in the NCAA Effective Workshop the men’s and women’s basketball programs as an Facilitiation Symposium and the NCAA Life Skills academic coordinator assistant. Coordinator National Conference. After a four-year career as a track and field student- Mosher-Childress graduated from Illinois State athlete at Illinois State, Mosher-Childress transitioned with a degree in exercise science in August 2006 before into the academic services and life skills program as a completing a sport management master’s degree at graduate assistant from 2006-09. She totaled five years Illinois State in May 2008. JOHN WAGLE DIRECTOR OF SPORTS PERFORMANCE John Wagle is in his strength and conditioning coach at Western Illinois Uni- second year as director of versity prior to accepting the position at DePaul in August sports performance after be- 2013. While working for the Leathernecks, he assisted ing promoted to the position in all sport-specific training protocols. He also worked in July 2014. Wagle joined at Dominican University from August 2011-July 2012 as the DePaul athletics depart- strength and conditioning coach and an assistant baseball ment in August 2013 as an coach. assistant director of sports Wagle received his Bachelor’s degree in Arts in Phys- performance prior to the promotion. ics and Business Management from Augustana College As director, Wagle primarily works with the men’s and earned a Master’s of Science degree from Western basketball, and men’s tennis programs while Illinois, Master’s of Nonprofit Administration degree from coordinating the sports performance program for all and a Master’s of Business Adminis- 15 intercollegiate teams. His areas of interest in sports tration degree from Loyola Chicago. performance include speed and power development After graduating from Augustana, Wagle played methods, movement efficiency and strength training as independent league baseball for the San Angelo Colts, injury prevention. Rockford Riverhawks, Joliet Slammers and Fargo-Moor- The Rock Island, Illinois native was an assistant head Red Hawks.

STAFF | 71 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL REV. DENNIS H. HOLTSCHNEIDER, C.M. UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT The Rev. Dennis H. history of financial aid in the United States. He earned a Holtschneider, C.M., is presi- bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Niagara University dent of DePaul University, the in 1985, studied for the priesthood at Mary Immaculate nation’s largest Catholic uni- Seminary in Northampton, Pa., and was ordained in 1989. versity and the largest private Father Holtschneider was an administrator with St. university in the Midwest, John’s University in Queens, N.Y., from 1996 to 1999, first and chairman of Ascension, as assistant dean of Notre Dame College and later as as- the nation’s largest Catholic sociate dean of the university’s College of Liberal Arts and and non-profit health system. Sciences. Concurrently, he served as an assistant profes- He also serves on the boards of the American Council sor of higher education in St. John’s Graduate School of on Education (ACE), the Chicago History Museum and the Education. He served as executive vice president at his steering committee of the Illinois Business Immigration alma mater, Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y., from Coalition. 2000 to 2004, where he directed the university’s strategic Father Holtschneider became DePaul’s 11th president planning efforts and daily operations. on July 1, 2004 and oversees a $550 million budget, Father Holtschneider led two national studies exam- 23,539 students and 924 full-time faculty on four Chicago ining trends in governance and leadership in American and suburban campuses. He has led DePaul through Catholic colleges and universities. He is the author of one two successful strategic plans. The current plan, “Vision book and numerous articles on U.S. higher education and 2018: Dedication to Excellence, Commitment to Com- Catholic higher education, as well as a frequent consul- munity, was launched in September 2013 and is designed tant and speaker on these topics. to enhance academic quality and educational innova- He is a professor of education at DePaul and a faculty tion, deepen connections to the global city of Chicago, member in the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s strengthen DePaul’s Catholic and Vincentian identity, Management Development Program where, during the foster diversity and inclusion and ensure the university’s fall 2014 semester, he served as Visiting Scholar and financial strength. President-in-Residence. He also is a faculty member at During Father Holtschneider’s tenure, the university Boston College’s Institute for Administrators in Catholic developed and completed its “Many Dreams, One Mis- Higher Education. sion” capital campaign, which surpassed its original goal Father Holtschneider has been honored widely for his to raise $250 million, eventually raising $333 million, the work on a variety of issues, including being listed as one largest portion of which was allocated for student scholar- of Diversity MBA Magazine’s Top 100 under 50 Diverse ships to ensure access to high quality education for future Executive Leaders (2012). He received the ACE Council of generations of DePaul students. Fellows Mentor Award in 2015, recognizing his guidance He joined the board of Ascension Health in 2009 and in preparing the next generation of academic leaders moved to the parent board of Ascension in 2012, where in higher education. He also holds honorary doctoral he chaired the audit committee for the $20 billion health degrees from Adamson University, Manila; College of St. care organization consisting of the health care system and Elizabeth, New Jersey; Marywood University, Pennsylva- an array of health-related businesses. nia; Niagara University, New York; St. Thomas Aquinas A Detroit native, he studied at Harvard University and College, New York; and received the Vincentian Charism received his doctorate in administration, planning and so- Award from All Hallows College in Dublin. cial policy in 1997 after writing a dissertation on the early

72 | STAFF 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL JEAN LENTI PONSETTO ATHLETICS DIRECTOR One of the nation’s most est collective grade-point averages in each conference widely respected leaders in sport. Women’s basketball, golf, men’s soccer, women’s intercollegiate athletics and soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, women’s indoor a driving force behind the track and field and women’s outdoor track and field all continuing expansion and accumulated the highest team GPA for their respective development of DePaul’s sports. athletics program, Jean Lenti The 2008-09 academic year saw the men’s track and Ponsetto is now in her 14th field program post the highest cumulative grade-point -av year as DePaul’s Director of erage in the country by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Athletics and her 41st as a member of the Blue Demon Country Coaches Association. Among the 16 programs in athletic family. the BIG EAST Conference, the Blue Demons led the way Jeanne was named to her current position on July 1, academically in women’s basketball, men’s cross country, 2002 and the Blue Demons have experienced tremen- women’s cross country, men’s soccer, women’s tennis, dous success both on and off the playing field ever since. men’s indoor track and field and men’s outdoor track and Ponsetto also guided the DePaul efforts in 2003 when the field. University announced it would join the BIG EAST Confer- In the spring of 2009, she was named Under Armour ence in 2005. Athletic Director of the Year for the NCAA Division I Cen- An advocate for student-athlete welfare, Ponsetto tral Region. For the second time in her career, Ponsetto initiated and provided the leadership for the Sullivan- was presented NACWAA’s Administrator of the Year McGrath Athletics Capital Campaign which has yielded Award in 2003 and was the organization’s president in the funding resources for the renovation of Wish Soccer 2005-06. She added duties as president of the Division Field, the creation of the Cacciatore Softball Stadium and I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (D1-AAA ADA) for renovation of the Cherry Family Indoor Track at the Ray 2009-10. Prior to being named president, she was the Meyer . second vice president for the I-AAA Athletics Directors Ponsetto had an active role in helping to organize Association. the new BIG EAST Conference which debuted on July 1, A former four-sport standout for DePaul, Ponsetto 2013 with seven members of the previous conference boasts a wealth of experience in three areas of DePaul (DePaul, Marquette, Georgetown, St. John’s, Providence, athletics: as a student-athlete, coach and administrator. Seton Hall and Villanova) along with three new members She had spent seven years as the senior associate director (Butler, Creighton, Xavier). of athletics after serving 12 years as the associate director She was also instrumental in the negotiations for and two as an assistant director before assuming her cur- the new home for DePaul basketball to be located near rent job in 2002. McCormick Place and scheduled to open in the 2017-18 Aside from her duties at DePaul, she has served on season. numerous NCAA committees and most recently was se- During her first 12 years at the helm of the depart- lected as a member of the NCAA Council and was chosen ment, 14 of the 15 Blue Demon athletic programs have by the council to serve as chair of the NCAA Women’s represented the school in NCAA championships including Basketball Oversight Committee. 12 straight NCAA appearances by the women’s basketball Ponsetto served the NCAA as a member of the team, two trips to the Women’s College World Series for Division I Men’s Basketball Enhancement Group and is the softball program, and the men’s soccer team’s initial an NCAA Champion, a program highlighting key NCAA trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the BIG EAST administrators to act as spokespeople from the member- Conference regular season title. ship on NCAA issues. Ponsetto also chairs the Collegiate Success has also come in the classroom during Pon- Women’s Sports Awards Board of Directors and the Wade setto’s tenure as more than 1,000 Blue Demon student- Trophy Selection Committee and is the past president athletes have been named to conference academic honor of NACWAA and a member of the NACDA Division I-AAA rolls. The golf team was academic national champion in Board of Directors. In recent years, Ponsetto served on 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. In 2012-13, women’s basket- the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Issues Committee, ball was ranked second nationally in the WBCA Academic the Division I Women’s Basketball Task Force, the Division Top 25 after finishing third in 2011-12. I Recruiting/Early Scholarship Offer Working Group, the The most-recent example of the academic success NCAA Amateurism Clearinghouse Advisory Group and the was during a span of 13 days following the end of the NCAA Work/Life Balance Task Force. 2013-14 academic year that saw DePaul teams honored Ponsetto spent a five-year term as Chair of the with six academic accolades. Men’s golf and the track 49-member NCAA Division I Championships/Competition and field programs were recognized for their outstanding Cabinet, a position she assumed in 1998 after one year achievement and 154 student-athletes were named to as a member of the Cabinet. She was the first woman to BIG EAST All-Academic Team. chair a Cabinet and had the longest tenure as a Cabinet The Blue Demons continued the academic trend in chair. Under Ponsetto’s leadership, the Championships/ 2014-15 as a record-tying eight programs earned a BIG Competition Cabinet had several accomplishments, most EAST Team Academic Award. It’s the fifth straight year notably the expansion of championship opportunities to that DePaul has led the conference in the team academic include all conference champions, an improved awards honors and starting with the 2008-09 academic year, 42 program, a review of the Association’s bylaws with regard programs have posted the top team GPA among their to playing and practice seasons, authorization and format conference peers. structure for all championships, establishment of a com- DePaul led the BIG EAST Conference with eight 2012- prehensive certification process for the I-A Football Bowl 13 Team Academic Excellence Awards for having the high- Games and certified events. During her tenure she was

STAFF | 73 2015-16 DEPAUL BASKETBALL a member of the NCAA Division I Budget Committee and highlighted by the addition of four new members and the served as an adviser to the NCAA President during the expansion of the sports information services. Jeanne also NCAA negotiations with ESPN which yielded additional served as chairperson of the basketball committee for six championship appearances and revenue for the Associa- years. tion. With the formation of the In 1999, she was one of only eight women appointed in 1991 and Conference USA in 1995, Ponsetto added to the 29-person NCAA Division I Working Group to Study several additional duties to her resume. She was the first Men’s and Women’s Basketball Issues. This committee chair of the Great Midwest Woman Administrators Com- was formed to review matters important to the Division I mittee and was also a member of the Conference USA membership such as freshman eligibility, graduation rates, Compliance Coordinators Committee. She also has been summer recruiting, student-athlete welfare, gambling, tournament manager for the Great Midwest and Confer- agents and outside influences. ence USA women’s basketball, volleyball, rifle, men’s and Ponsetto also served as a member of the NCAA Men’s women’s cross country, men’s and women’s indoor track and Women’s Basketball Marketing Committee, which and men’s and women’s tennis championships when De- developed a plan for the potential growth in attendance Paul served as host. In 1998-99, she served as chair of the and television viewership for both men’s and women’s Senior Woman Administrators and served on the C-USA basketball. Television Committee and both the men’s and women’s She served on the NCAA Division I Women’s Bas- basketball task forces. ketball Committee from 1992-98 and was chair of the Ponsetto was one of 16 administrators selected committee her final two years. In this position, Ponsetto nationally to serve on the NCAA’s Life Skills Task Force in was in charge of all aspects of the NCAA Championship 1993. This was a project sponsored by the NCAA Educa- including the selection of the 64-team field as well as tional Services to assist institutions in the preparation of the administration of the tournament. Additionally, she student-athletes for the out-of-the classroom learning was selected to serve on the NCAA Basketball Officiating experiences they encounter. The program components Committee, which oversees the officials’ clinics and tour- include Academics, Athletics, Personal Development, nament officiating. Community Service and Career Development. Ponsetto has received several awards for her out- Ponsetto is a member of both NACDA and NACWAA standing work at DePaul and for her leadership serving and is also involved in several community and charitable the NCAA members and student-athletes. The Women’s organizations. Basketball Coaches Association named her Administra- Ponsetto, who is a member of the DePaul Athletic tor of the Year at the 1998 Final Four and the National Hall of Fame, began her association with Blue Demon ath- Association of Collegiate Women’s Athletic Administra- letics as a member of the tennis, volleyball and women’s tors (NACWAA) named her Administrator of the Year basketball teams in 1974-75. She participated in softball that same year. Subsequently, Ponsetto was annually when it was added as a varsity sport two years later. appointed to the NACWAA Board of Directors. Following graduation in 1978, she was named the In September 1999, Ponsetto was honored by DePaul school’s first assistant women’s basketball coach by then with a Spirit of DePaul Award given to five members of head coach . Ironically, she then hired him as the DePaul community for their university leadership and head women’s coach when he returned to that position in service in the spirit of St. . 1988. A gifted public speaker, Ponsetto was the Master of Her work within the Chicago sports scene has been Ceremonies at the 2002 and 2008 Collegiate Woman Ath- duly noted. Ponsetto was named one of the top 100 most lete of the Year Awards Program and has been a faculty influential women in Chicago by the Chicago Sun-Times member at the NACWAA Executive Institute and a pre- (she was ranked second in sports category behind Chicago senter at NCAA Regional Compliance seminars and NCAA Bears owner Virginia McCaskey) in 2004, and in the spring Student Leadership Conferences. She is also a frequent of 2003 she was awarded the Leonardo Da Vinci Out- guest on radio and television programs regarding issues standing Achievement in Education Award by the Sons of that face intercollegiate athletics today and has served Italy. Ponsetto was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports as a color analyst for FOX Sports Net during telecasts for Hall of Fame in 2007, whose membership includes Ray , volleyball and softball contests. She Meyer, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton and Michael Jordan. also served as a studio analyst in 2000 for ESPN during Most recently, she was honored with induction in the Na- the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. tional Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in November Since moving into an administrative position over 30 2014 whose membership includes Joe DiMaggio, Mario years ago at DePaul, Ponsetto has had a significant impact Andretti, Tommy Lasorda and Mike Piazza. on the status of the DePaul intercollegiate sports scene. Married to former Blue Demon basketball star Joe She introduced four women’s sports - indoor and outdoor Ponsetto, formerly Bureau Chief of Special Prosecutions track, cross country and women’s soccer - to varsity status for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and currently at DePaul. Under her direction DePaul has built several practicing law in the western suburbs, she comes from athletic facilities including the Sullivan Athletic Center a family intertwined in education and athletics. One that opened in 2000, the Fitness Recreation brother, Frank Lenti, is head football coach at Mt. Carmel Center that opened in 1999 and the recently completed High School in Chicago. In the fall of 1999, the Chicago projects in Cacciatore Stadium, Wish Field and the Cherry Tribune named Frank as the high school football coach Family Indoor Track. Recently she negotiated long-term of the century in Illinois. Another brother, David, is an contracts with Ruffled Feathers Golf Club as home for the assistant under Frank with the Caravan. Two other broth- men’s golf program as well as Lane Stadium as a home for ers work for the DePaul athletics department as Michael the men’s and women’s outdoor track and field teams. is the Director of Athletic Facilities and Eugene is the In 1983, Ponsetto was also instrumental in the forma- school’s all-time winningest coach as the head softball tion of the North Star Conference of which DePaul was a coach. Jeanne’s sister Marilyn, who recently retired as charter member until leaving the league in 1991. During the Teacher Coordinator for Students with Learning Dis- DePaul’s tenure in the North Star, she served as the com- abilities in south suburban Dolton, is a DePaul graduate as missioner from 1987-89. Her stint as commissioner was are Eugene and David. 74 | STAFF