SYRACUSE — DePaul dipped into its past to forge a path toward the future.
The school has hired former coach Dave Leitao as its new coach. He will be introduced at a press conference on Monday afternoon.
Loiter went 58-34 at DePaul from 2002-05, making two NITs and one NCAA Tournament. He then spent four years at Virginia, going 143-129 before serving as an assistant at Missouri and Tulsa under Frank Haith.
“This is a special day for my family and me,” said Leitao. “I underestimated what a special place DePaul University and the city of Chicago are when I left here in 2005. The dedication and support here to the growth of student success is second to none, not only for a basketball program but also for the entire student body. I’m proud and our team will be proud to represent this great institution in one of the world’s great cities. We will exude the work ethic that drives Chicago and the region every day and look forward to everyone joining us next season.”
“Following our search that garnered high-level national interest, we are excited to announce that Dave Leitao is our next men’s basketball coach,” said athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. “His success here speaks for itself with three postseason appearances in three years with teams that energized our alumni and fans with their competitiveness and work ethic. When he left in 2005, we recognized that it is the nature of our business that dynamic coaches get recruited away. Now we are pleased to welcome Dave, his wife Joyce and their family back to Lincoln Park with great enthusiasm for his leadership and the future development of our men’s basketball program.”
Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley had interviewed at DePaul on Saturday, and UTEP coach Tim Floyd also reportedly interviewed. Valparaiso’s Bryce Drew and Tyrone Corbin were also linked to the job.
Leitao will look to keep DePaul assistant Billy Garrett on staff, according to NBCSports.com. Billy Garrett Jr. will be a junior next season.
Photo: Getty Images
