Darian DeVries Embracing the Challenge

One on One with the West Virginia Coach

(St. Louis, MO) – After winning over 73% of his games coaching at Drake, Darian DeVries is embracing the challenge of Big Twelve basketball. DeVries’ Bulldog teams won 150 games over six seasons, visited three NCAA Tournaments and now he is the head coach at West Virginia.

After almost two weeks into fall practices, DeVries likes his roster, is enjoying the ‘college town’ atmosphere and knows his job will not be easy. Four Big Twelve teams are ranked among the nation’s top ten programs. The Mountaineers will also face Pittsburgh, Gonzaga, Georgetown and other outstanding programs at the Battle 4 Atlantis.

With only one returning player on the roster, DeVries had to hit the recruiting trail hard. Obviously, he didn’t have to go far to sign the Missouri Valley Conference ‘Player of the Year.  His son Tucker joined immediately, but his work was cut out for him.

Tucker’s injured left shoulder is fully recovered.

DeVries Embracing the Challenge of Roster Building

DeVries worked the transfer portal and traditional high school recruiting to build his first power conference roster. He’s confident his current crop of players is a good unit. Following Tucker to Morgantown were former Bulldog Joseph Yesufu and Valley player Toby Okani (UIC), but DeVries landed a number of players from other ‘money conference’ schools.

Javon Small (Oklahoma State) and two Illinois transfers (Amani Hansberry and Sencire Harris) have joined the squad and DeVries says he likes the team’s makeup and believes Small, an honorable mention Big Twelve player last season, can be a star.

 

While Amani Hansberry is on the smaller side for a post player, the first year coach thinks his ability to ‘pick and pop’ will be an advantage for his squad.

 

Combatting Big Twelve teams is no easy feat and DeVries brought four former Drake assistant coaches with him to WVU. Former Illinois assistant Chester Frazier is the Associate Head Coach.

DeVries believes Frazier’s addition to the staff is very important.

 

Former Detroit Mercy star Jayden Stone brings some offensive fire power to the mix. Very highly rated high school players point to a solid future. K.J. Tenner was Tennessee’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ and Jonathan Powell was Ohio’s ‘Player of the Year’.

Change of Scenery

Des Moines and Morgantown are both near major rivers. DeVries has never been in either the Des Moines River nor the Monongehela River. He says the scenery in Morgantown is beautiful and he is enjoying being in a ‘college town’. It reminds him of his playing days at Northern Iowa.

He says rebuilding the roster reminds him of his first year at Drake.

 

Embracing the challenge of the Big Twelve is a lot about roster makeup. DeVries says his new conference reminds him of the one he just left. He calls both leagues physical and well coached.

 

DeVries took the Mountaineers to Italy this summer. He says the trip was a great bonding experience and his players had an opportunity to play real games and compete against non-teammates.

The 49-year-old DeVries loved his time in Des Moines. He gushes about the great way he and his family were treated by the Bulldog faithful.

You can hear our entire conversation at Valley Hoops Insider Podcasts. We talk about Porter Moser, the European trip and his expectations for the season.

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