FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2014
Courtesy of Adelphi Athletics Communications
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - Adelphi University
Director of Athletics and Recreation, Danny
McCabe announced Tuesday
that David Duke is the new
head coach of the men's basketball program. Duke, who helped
rebuild programs at Hofstra University and Fordham University, will
lead the Panthers in the highly competitive Northeast-10
Conference.
"We are thrilled to welcome David Duke as the new Head Coach
of Adelphi University men's basketball. David is a person of high
integrity and character and he fits into the values and culture
here at Adelphi," explained McCabe. "His extensive experience in
being part of building two college programs in the metropolitan
area separated him from the rest of the candidate pool. David is
known as a tireless worker and recruiter as well as a teacher of
the game. He and his staff will assist our student-athletes in
reaching their potential both on and off the court."
Duke, who just completed his fourth year on the bench at Fordham,
his second as Associate Head Coach, helped the Rams to an
appearance in the Atlantic-10 Championship. He was also
instrumental in recruiting the current Atlantic-10 and All-Met
Rookie of the Year, Jon Severe.
"I am honored to be the new head men's basketball coach at Adelphi
University. Growing up only twenty minutes from campus, I have
always known Adelphi to be an outstanding academic and
athletic institution," stated Duke. "Adelphi basketball has a
great tradition and I look forward to revitalizing the program
and bringing back the level of success it has achieved
historically. I would like to thank President Dr. Robert A.
Scott, Vice President Dr. Lauren Mounty and Director of Athletics
Danny McCabe for giving me this opportunity."
Duke started his basketball coaching career as a graduate assistant
coach at Hofstra University under the tutelage of now Villanova
head Coach Jay Wright. He was then elevated to assistant coach
after two seasons. Duke worked under Wright for one season before
joining Tom Pecora's staff at Hofstra when he was named head coach
in 2001.
An integral member of the staff at Hofstra, Duke helped the Pride
become one of the top programs in the country. He was a part of two
NCAA tournaments (2000 and 2001) and four Postseason National
Invitation Tournaments including three in a row (2005-07) at
Hofstra. During the 2005-06 seasons, the Pride tied a school record
with 26 wins and advanced to the NIT quarterfinals.
Duke helped bring in a number of top level recruiting classes at
Hofstra including the programs all-time leading scorer and three
time Haggerty Award winner and Golden State Warrior draft pick,
Charles Jenkins, and Antoine Agudio, Hofstra's all-time leading
scorer until surpassed by Jenkins who was 13th in the NCAA in
scoring in 2007-08. In addition, Duke coached guards, Craig
"Speedy" Claxton, who was chosen in the first round of the National
Basketball Association's 2000 NBA draft and Norman Richardson, who
appeared in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks
and Indiana Pacers.
In 2003 and 2004, Duke was the head coach of the Long Island's
men's open team at the Empire State Games that won consecutive
championships-the first time that Long Island has ever won
back-to-back titles in the history of the Empire State Games. In
2003 Duke became one of the youngest coaches ever to win the gold
medal in the open men's basketball competition. In 2004, Long
Island won the championship by an average margin of victory of 33
points per game. The team also averaged 100 points per game and
beat New York City on the way to the championship.
Duke spent four years at Fordham, including two as the Associate
Head Coach. In those four years Duke's recruiting efforts helped
elevate the talent pool considerably, leading to a resurgence
of the program.
Duke earned his undergraduate degree in 1997 from SUNY Albany where
he majored in communications and minored in education. In the
1997-98 season, he played on the basketball team at New York
Institute of Technology.
