Darian DeVries was named the 23rd West Virginia men’s basketball head coach this past March, agreeing to a five-year deal with WVU.
“I want to thank President Gee and athletic director Wren Baker here for this unbelievable opportunity. I understand the responsibility of being the men’s basketball coach here at West Virginia and we will do everything we can to make you proud,” DeVries said in an initial press conference.
DeVries formerly held the position of head coach at Drake University for six seasons with an overall record of 150-55. In his first season as head coach, he led the team to a winning record of 24-10. He led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament three out of the six seasons he coached.
DeVries made history at Drake when his eight-seed team overcame the top seed in the MVC Tournament before the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. He is a two-time MVC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2023-24 Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award.
Joining the head coach is his son, senior guard and forward Tucker DeVries. He played the last three seasons for his father at Drake and was the only NCAA Division I men’s basketball player to average at least 20.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in 2023-2024.
The senior currently is on the preseason watchlist for the Julius Erving Award and the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Award.
“Our goal is to make sure every opponent leaves here (West Virginia) with some pepperoni rolls and the words of ‘Country Roads’ echoing in their head,” DeVries, the coach, said.
DeVries will kickstart his new position with the Mountaineers in their season opener against Robert Morris on Monday at 7:00 p.m.
