Saint Francis University men’s basketball head coach Luke McConnell has elevated Devin Sweetney to Associate Head Coach.
Sweeney returned to his alma mater for the 2024-25 season and helped the Red Flash win its first Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament Championship in 34 years with a 46-43 win against CCSU on March 11 before the squad played in the NCAA Tournament and the First Four for the first time since the 1991 campaign.
“I’ve known Devin for a long time and I am so excited to have him as our Associate Head Coach,” said McConnell. It is the best job in the world to coach basketball and it is even more rewarding when you get to do it with good people. He has had an immediate impact on our staff, student-athletes, and campus since day one and I look forward to continuing to build on the success we had last year with him.”
Sweetney, who played for the Red Flash from 2006-10, ranks ninth in points (seventh when he left) and 15th in rebounding (12th when he left) on the career charts in program history. In his first game as a Red Flash, Sweetney recorded 20 points and nine rebounds to start his standout career against Lock Haven on November 18, 2006. He would finish his career with 17 games with at least 20 points, three 30-point performances, and 11 double-figure rebound games and double-doubles. Sweetney posted a career-high 35 points at LIU on February 19, 2009, and 15 rebounds at Monmouth on January 14, 2010. The 2006-07 NEC All-Rookie selection and 2009-10 All-NEC first-team performer posted two 30-point performances in his senior year at DeGol Arena with 30 points against Lafayette (November 19, 2009) and Sacred Heart (February 20, 2010). He is also one of five players in team history to be named the NEC Rookie of the Week four times. He was also selected as the NEC Player of the Week twice in his career.
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to step into the role of Associate Head Coach for Saint Francis University men’s basketball,” said Sweetney. “This is not just a career milestone for me, but a personal one, as I’ve returned to my alma mater with a deep sense of pride and commitment to the program. I look forward to continuing to work alongside an amazing staff and helping our student-athletes achieve success both on and off the court.”
McConnell, a 2012 Saint Francis graduate, and Sweetney overlapped their time in Loretto with two years together as student-athletes. McConnell was a four-year letterwinner on the Red Flash football team from 2008-12.
After graduating from Saint Francis in 2010, Sweetney played 12 professional seasons in 17 countries and four continents (United States, Europe, Asia, and South America). He had two workouts for the Washington Wizards in 2010 and was drafted in the NBA D-League by the Tulsa 66ers. He played in the NBA D-League with the Bakersfield Jam of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011, the Capital City Gogo team in 2018-19, and appeared in four preseason games with the Denver Nuggets in 2015.
Sweetney was named the Most Valuable Player and the leading scorer in the NBL Canada as a member of the Moncton Miracles in 2012-13 and then helped the Lugano Tigers to the league title and was the leading scorer in the circuit in 2013-14. He was also the leading scorer of the league the following season as a member of BBA Monthey of LNA Switzerland. He was a Big 3 Champion before he finished his professional playing career in the Iranian Basketball League in 2021.
After retiring as a player, Sweetney has worked in the coaching ranks. He was in the NBA Assistant Coach Program in 2021 and then coached with the Windy City Bulls (2021-22) and the Santa Cruz Warriors (2022-23) of the NBA G League. He worked with some notable NBA players, including Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins, Michael Beasley, and Victor Oladipo.
He served as the associate head coach at Riverdale Baptist, his high school alma mater, for the 2023-24 season. Since February 2024, he has been the Complete Athlete Basketball: Team Museum head coach before returning to Saint Francis in the fall.
Sweetney graduated with a bachelor of business administration and management in 2010 and completed his master’s of education leadership, business, management, and marketing in 2023.
