By Breanna Jacobs
Penn State men’s basketball coach Ed DeChellis will soon be leaving the Nittany Lions, ESPN’s Andy Katz reports. Katz reported on Monday, May 23, that DeChellis will be replacing Billy Lange, who is now an associate head coach at Villanova, as the head coach of Navy.
DeChellis was under much scrutiny while at Penn State; he headed a program that just couldn’t seem to stay consistent. And after the departure of seniors Talor Battle, Andrew Jones, Jeff Brooks, and David Jackson at the end of the 2011 season, DeChellis’ 2012 team certainly would have been a dismal one.
In spite of this, DeChellis’ sudden departure from the Nittany Lions is a surprise, especially because DeChellis’ team seemed to be making great improvements. DeChellis led the team to an NIT Championship in 2009 and he also led his team to the NCAA Tournament in 2011. The team made it to the second round, losing to Temple in what can only be described by Penn State students and fans as a heartbreaking loss. However, some may say that this loss cemented DeChellis’ non-existent future with the team.
DeChellis will end his eight year stay with the Nittany Lions with a record of 222-232.
At this time, it is uncertain who DeChellis’ replacement will be.
Seems like the coaching carousel is running late this year. It’s kind of a surprise to see guys still moving/leaving this late into the signing period.
Wow – Casey is right and this is very late in the season. I wonder what impact, if any – this will have on the Nittany Lions recruiting class for 2011-2012 season.
Breanna, no rumors as to who Penn State will hire ???
Where is Chas to weigh in on this??
As of right now, there doesn’t seem to be any rumors regarding a replacement for DeChellis.
I think DeChellis’ departure has taken everyone by surprise.
Hopefully they’ll come out with one soon though.
Our basketball team seemed to be on a good path this year, although who knows what will happen now that DeChellis and all those seniors are gone.
I have a feeling it’s going to be a rough season.
I don’t have much to say except it reminds me of when Bruce Parkhill left after it seemed he had built the program up to a degree of respectability. That’s way before Breanna’s time, I’m sure. It just seems that Penn State basketball is destined to remain a non-factor. Like Breanna said in the article, it was going to be a rough year next year for the program regardless.
An interesting read: https://blog.pennlive.com/davidjones/2011/05/call_set_up_between_larry_brow.html
Oh boy – https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/ncaa/05/30/pennst.coach.ap/index.html?sct=cb_t2_a3
In the first article you reference, I really don’t get it. Is David Jones criticizing Penn State for not being interested in Larry Brown? Seems like he is, but he doesn’t really drive the point home.
Assuming he is being critical, what do you think, Casey? I suppose Larry Brown could bring instant credibility to the program, but doesn’t hiring a 70-year old traveling show like Brown, at a school that’s rebuilding* at best, just reek of desperation. I think it would just seem like a silly move, to be honest.
*I use the term “rebuilding” loosely here. I believe you actually have to have a strong program that’s on a downswing to call it rebuilding.