DEPAUL HISTORY & RECORDS | DEPAUL A-TO-Z ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN BIG EAST CONFERENCE Stephen Howard (1988-92) was DePaul’s first Academic All- DePaul is a member of the BIG EAST Conference. The Blue De- American as selected by CoSIDA, earning first team honors mons are joined in the league by Butler, Creighton, Georgetown, in 1990-91 and 1991-92. He was also a first team All-District Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova and Xavier. selection as a sophomore, junior and senior. The Blue Demons joined the conference prior to the start of the 2005-06 academic year. Connecticut becomes the league’s 11th AGUIRRE, MARK member in July 2020. One of the greatest players in DePaul history. Aguirre, a two-time first team All-American, is the school’s all-time leading scorer and BOOTH, DAVID holds three single-season records as well. A member of the 1980 The second leading scorer in school history, Booth played at Olympic team, Mark helped DePaul to a Final Four appearance as DePaul from 1988-92 and finished his collegiate career in the a freshman in 1979. He was named to the All-Final Four team that school’s top 10 in seven statistical categories. An honorable year. The first pick of the 1981 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, mention All-American in 1991, Booth was the school’s first he won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons during his 14- first team all-conference performer, earning All-Great Midwest year NBA career. Mark was enshrined into the DePaul Athletic accolades in 1992. He joined his alma mater during the 2009-10 Hall of Fame in 1996 as a player and again in 1999 as a member season as an assistant men’s basketball coach. Most recently, of DePaul’s 1979 Final Four team. In 2016, he was honored as Booth was the director of player personnel for the NBA’s New an inductee into the College Basketball Hall of Fame. His jersey Orleans Pelicans. number (24) is one of two that DePaul has retired. BLUE DEMONS ALASKA In 1900 when the first athletic team to ever represent DePaul The Blue Demons made their initial voyage to Alaska in November University was organized, the monogram “D” was selected for 2000 and participated in the annual Great Alaska Shootout. the uniforms. From this originated the nickname “D-men” which DePaul finished fourth, losing to Syracuse and then beating Florida evolved into “Demons.” The blue, which combines with Demons, State and Alaska Anchorage. signifies loyalty and was chosen in 1901 by a vote of the student body. ALL-AMERICANS Since 1937, DePaul has had 19 players earn first, second or third CHICAGO STADIUM team All-American honors on 80 occasions. In addition to the Opened in 1929, Chicago Stadium was home to the Chicago 19 first, second or third team honorees, nine others picked up Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls until it was demolished in 1994. honorable mention recognition for All-American teams. George In the 1940’s and 50’s, the Stadium was also home to college Mikan, Mark Aguirre and Terry Cummings each earned consensus basketball doubleheaders. The first Great Midwest Conference first team All-American honors. Tournament in 1992 was the final college basketball action to be played at the Stadium which was torn down in 1994. ALLSTATE ARENA The name of DePaul’s basketball home from 1980-2017. Formerly COLORS known as the Rosemont Horizon, the Blue Demons played 37 DePaul’s official school colors are royal blue and scarlet. The PMS seasons at the facility in suburban Rosemont. The 18,500-seat colors are 285 (blue) and 186 (red). arena has hosted the NCAA Men’s First and Second Rounds in 1987 and 1993 and the 2005 Chicago Regional. It has also hosted CONFERENCE USA the NCAA Women’s Mideast Regional in 1996 and the NCAA The 2004-05 season was DePaul’s last in Conference USA. Original Women’s First and Second Rounds in 2006 and 2012. members were DePaul, UAB, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Marquette, Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Houston, Tulane, Saint Louis, USF ALUMNI HALL and Louisville. East Carolina and TCU joined the league in 2001-02. Set at the center of DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus, Alumni Hall was home to Blue Demon athletics from 1956-2000. The 5,300- CORBIN, TYRONE seat arena was the regular home of the men’s team from 1956 to One of the most beloved players in Blue Demon history, Corbin is 1980. DePaul then played 22 games at the corner of Belden and currently DePaul’s third all-time leading rebounder and 19th all- Sheffield Avenues from 1980-2000 and had an impressive winning time leading scorer. He is the only player in DePaul history to lead streak of 54 games from 1977-98. The Blue Demons finished 288- a Blue Demon team in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage 71 all-time in Alumni Hall. The building was torn down in July 2000 and free throw percentage for two consecutive seasons in 1983-84 to make room for the DePaul Student Center. and 1984-85. Corbin spent 15 seasons in the NBA as a player and was head coach of the Utah Jazz from 2011-14. Currently, he is an AP TOP 10 assistant coach for the Orlando Magic. The Blue Demons have finished in the top 10 in the final Associated Press Poll on eight occasions, including a string of five straight years from 1978-82. The last time DePaul finished in the AP Top 10 was in 1987. DEPAUL HISTORY & RECORDS | DEPAUL A-TO-Z CORZINE, DAVE HALL OF FAME DePaul’s all-time leading rebounder and third all-time leading One former DePaul player and one former coach are members scorer, Dave helped the Blue Demons to two NCAA Tournaments, of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. George Mikan including a Elite Eight appearance in 1978. Corzine went on to play (1942-46) was enshrined as a charter member in 1959, while in the NBA from 1978-91. He worked a DePaul until June 2018 as former coach Ray Meyer was enshrined in 1979. assistant to the athletics director for community outreach and is the primary radio analyst for DePaul basketball. JAY GOEDERT MEMORIAL AWARD Awarded to the MVP of the DePaul-Northern Illinois game. It is DEPAUL AUDITORIUM named after the former assistant coach at both schools and was Affectionately known as “The Barn,” it was the home to the Blue established in 2004. Goedert was an assistant at Northern Illinois Demons until 1956. The site is now the home of the Ray Meyer from 1985-87 before working at DePaul from 1987-97. Fitness and Recreation Center. DePaul won 81-straight games at “The Barn”, the most successful home-court winning streak in KLEINSCHMIDT, TOM school history. One of only two players in school history to earn conference Player of the Year honors, Kleinschmidt was the 1994-95 Great DIENER, DRAKE Midwest Conference Player of the Year as a senior. Kleinschmidt One of three players in school history to own multiple career still ranks in DePaul’s all-time top 10 in six career statistical catego- school records, Diener graduated in 2005 with the school records ries. for career three-point field goals, career three-point field goal attempts and free throw percentage. Diener also owned single- LEITAO, DAVE season school records for three-point field goals, three-point field DePaul’s coach from 2002-05, Leitao took the Blue Demons to goal attempts and free throw percentage at the conclusion of his the second round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament and guided the career. program to the Conference USA regular season championship that year. DePaul also made two NIT appearances in his three years. FINAL FOUR ANNOUNCER Leitao returned to DePaul in March 2015 as head coach. If you’re watching the NCAA Final Four and the voice of the public address announcer sounds familiar, it should. Gene Honda, one LENTI PONSETTO, JEAN of DePaul’s PA men, has been the voice of the Final Four since the DePaul’s athletics director, Ponsetto was named to her current po- 2002-03 season. Honda is in his 19th season doing Blue Demon sition on July 1, 2002. A four-sport standout for the Blue Demons, games in 2019-20. In addition to calling DePaul games, he is also Jeanne has been involved with DePaul athletics as a player, coach the voice for the Chicago Blackhawks, Chicago White Sox and the and administrator for the past 45 years. Maui Invitational. LOGO GARLAND, GARY DePaul introduced the current logo for its athletic program on A Blue Demon great from 1975-79, Garland helped DePaul to October 14, 1999. SME Powerbranding of New York designed the three NCAA Tournament appearances including the 1979 Final logo. Four, earned NCAA Tournament All-Region honors in 1978 and 1979 and was the Most Valuable Player of the West Regional in MAUI 1979. An honorable mention All-American in 1979, Garland was DePaul has played in Maui Invitational four times (1988, 1992, nicknamed the Music Man by his teammates and often sang the 1997 and 2006). In their last appearance the Blue Demons lost to National Anthem before Blue Demon games. Garland continued Kentucky, beat Chaminade and dropped a decision to Purdue. The with a music career, serving as a backup singer to his half-sister, Chaminade victory was Jerry Wainwright’s 200th victory at the Whitney Houston. NCAA Division I level. GARRETT JR., BILLY McGRATH-PHILLIPS ARENA Named the 2014 BIG EAST Rookie of the Year to join Quentin The practice home for the Blue Demons, it was renamed in honor Richardson and Cleveland Melvin as the only players to win a of Frank McGrath, the former director of athletics facilities at conference freshman of the year award.