MORGANTOWN, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Former West Virginia University (WVU) Men’s Basketball Head Coach Darian DeVries has issued his first public statement since accepting the head coaching position at Indiana University on Tuesday.
After weeks of speculation surrounding DeVries’ potential departure, the rumors were confirmed when he officially accepted the Indiana job Tuesday evening.
DeVries spent just one season at WVU after being hired by Athletic Director Wren Baker. Before joining the Mountaineers, he served as the head coach at Drake.
In his lone season with WVU, DeVries led the team to a 19-13 overall record, including a 10-10 finish in Big 12 play.
Following his appointment, DeVries released the following statement through Indiana’s basketball program:
“This is unquestionably one of the top jobs in America. As someone who grew up in the Midwest loving the game of basketball, I’ve always admired the IU Basketball program for its championship-level success, tradition, and fan support,” DeVries said.
“There’s a passion to succeed at the very highest levels both within the Big Ten and in the NCAA Tournament, and that’s a desire that as a coach I share. On top of that, the alignment is there on a department and university level to make that happen. I’m excited for this opportunity and am ready to work relentlessly to assemble a staff and a roster that competes for championships.”
WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker also addressed DeVries’ departure in a statement Tuesday evening:
“Coach DeVries informed me of his plans to accept the head coaching position at another institution. Coach and I had several conversations in recent weeks focused on working together to build on a strong foundation and continue to grow our program. I made it clear to him that WVU is committed to invest in him and provide the resources needed to compete in the Big 12 and nationally. Ultimately, he decided to move on, and I want to thank him for his time at WVU.”
“We have an outstanding basketball tradition with some of the most loyal and passionate fans in college basketball. We have tremendously generous supporters and a great partnership with the University that allow us to compete in this new era of college athletics. The alignment between the leadership of our Board of Governors, the University and Athletics Department is strong, and I am confident our momentum will continue as we work diligently to identify the next leader of our men’s basketball program.”
With DeVries’ departure, WVU now begins its search for a new head coach.
