Pat Duquette, former associate head coach at Northeastern University and Boston College, was named the head men’s basketball coach at UMass Lowell, Director of Athletics Dana Skinner announced Thursday.

Duquette comes to the University following three years as the associate head coach to Bill Coen at Northeastern; which followed 13 years as an assistant/associate head coach to Al Skinner at Boston College.

Duquette takes over the men’s basketball program at a momentous juncture as UMass Lowell enters its first season in NCAA Division I and the America East Conference effective July 1.

“After a thorough process, the search committee felt Pat’s passion and strategy to achieve excellence on the court and in the classroom were a winning formula,” stated Skinner. “He has been a major piece of the success achieved at Boston College and Northeastern working for two of the area’s finest coaches in Bill Coen and Al Skinner. We believe he is an excellent fit at UMass Lowell and his positive energy will resonate well with the entire University community.”

Duquette replaces Greg Herenda, who recently accepted the head post at Fairleigh Dickinson University after five successful seasons with the River Hawks. He inherits a UMass Lowell team that returns 13 of 14 veterans and four of five starters from a 15-13 showing in 2012-13, including All-East Region/NE-10 standout Akeem Williams and All-NE-10 forward Antonio Bivins.

“It was clear when I drove into Lowell and saw so many things going on – the construction, the presence of the University, the progress – that this is a university that is taking off,” Duquette said. “I was blown away by the Tsongas Center and the possibility of playing there. The campus and city are connected. I just saw all sorts of potential.

“It is important when you make the transition from Division II to Division I that you have a good conference, and that’s already happened,” he added. “The University has great facilities and a committed administration. It’s a school on the rise with all the ingredients of successful basketball program. I can see the potential for growth and real success.”

“In Pat Duquette we’re getting a high-energy, passionate coach who has spent his entire career coaching and recruiting in this region and who is eager to take on the challenges of a new Division I basketball program,” said UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan. “The search committee saw in Pat all of the attributes they were seeking in a head coach at a crucial time, as our elevation to Division I brings UMass Lowell athletics in line with our national academic standing.”

Duquette is fresh off helping lead Northeastern to the Colonial Athletic Conference regular season championship and an appearance in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) first round. The Huskies put together a 20-13 overall record and a 14-4 clip in the CAC.

At Boston College, Duquette joined Al Skinner’s staff as an administrative assistant in 1997 and was named an assistant in 2001. In 2009, he was promoted to associate head coach and helped lead the Eagles to postseason bids in eight of his last 10 seasons, including Big East regular season championships in 2000-01, 2002-03 and 2004-05.

Additionally, the Eagles captured the Big East Tournament championship in 2001.

Duquette played a large role in developing three All-Americans (Troy Bell, Craig Smith and Jared Dudley), two Big East players of the year (Bell twice and Dudley), four first-team All-Conference standouts (Bell, Smith, Dudley and Tyrese Rice) and one conference Rookie of the Year (Bell) during his BC tenure.

“I really believe you have to play a style that fits your personnel,” Duquette said. “I’ve been influenced by a lot of great coaches who have won games a lot of different ways. I’ll choose a style that fits my personnel and gives us a chance to win.”

Duquette is a former standout at Williams College, where he served as team captain his senior season and led the Ephs to a top-10 national ranking. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Williams in 1993.

Following graduation, Duquette worked as an intern with the NBA’s New Jersey Nets and started his collegiate coaching career at Centenary at the same time. He spent the 1994-95 season at St. Lawrence and moved on to Saint Michael’s for two years, where he earned his master’s degree while helping the Purple Knights to the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

A native of Dalton, Mass., Duquette resides in Boston.

Duquette Year-by-Year

Year College Capacity Notes

1989-93 Williams College Player Captain in 1992-93; Little 3 titles in 1990, 92, 93

1993-94 Centenary Assistant Coach

1994-95 St. Lawrence Assistant Coach

1995-96 Saint Michael’s Assistant Coach

1996-97 Saint Michael’s Assistant Coach Northeast-10 regular season champion; NCAA

Tournament

1997-98 Boston College Administrative Asst.

1998-99 Boston College Administrative Asst.

1999-00 Boston College Administrative Asst.

2000-01 Boston College Administrative Asst. Big East East Division Champion; NCAA Tournament

2001-02 Boston College Assistant Coach NCAA Tournament

2002-03 Boston College Assistant Coach Big East East Division Champion; NIT

2003-04 Boston College Assistant Coach NCAA Tournament

2004-05 Boston College Assistant Coach Big East regular season champion

2005-06 Boston College Assistant Coach ACC Tournament Championship game; NCAA

Tournament Round of 16

2006-07 Boston College Assistant Coach NCAA Tournament

2007-08 Boston College Assistant Coach

2008-09 Boston College Assistant Coach NCAA Tournament

2009-10 Boston College Associate Coach

2010-11 Northeastern Associate Coach

2011-12 Northeastern Associate Coach

2012-13 Northeastern Associate Coach CAC regular season champion; NIT