Central Connecticut State University Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann announced that Donyell Marshall has been named the 10th head coach of the CCSU men’s basketball program. Marshall signed a five-year agreement to lead the Blue Devils.
Marshall will be introduced at a press conference to be held at Founder’s Hall in Davidson Hall on the Central Connecticut campus on Thursday, April 7, at 10:00 a.m.
“I am pleased to welcome Donyell Marshall as our new head men’s basketball coach at Central Connecticut State University,” said university president, Dr. Jack Miller. “Donyell’s resume is extensive and he has been highly successful at all levels, first as a player and now as a coach. Most importantly, he is a person of integrity who will build promising young players into men which is exactly what it will take to replace a person with the commitment and honesty of Coach Dickenman. Coach Marshall’s genuinely positive attitude, basketball experience and work ethic make him the right person for the job, and I know he can’t wait to begin. With the patience of our fans and supporters he will achieve great success. This is a great day and it makes me proud to be a Blue Devil.”
“We are extremely excited to introduce Donyell Marshall as our men’s basketball coach and welcome him to our Blue Devil family,” Schlickmann said. “Donyell immediately impressed me during the interview process as a genuine man with a passionate intent to develop young men into leaders and to give back to the game that has given him so much. His personality is engaging, his positive energy contagious and his humility disarming. His basketball resume and acumen are exceptional and speak for themselves. I believe he has the requisite experience and ability to guide our program to a level commensurate with our high expectations within the Northeast Conference and beyond.”
Following a successful 15-year playing career in the NBA, Marshall has been an assistant coach at both the NCAA Division I and professional levels. Marshall most recently helped the University at Buffalo advance to the NCAA tournament for a second straight year in 2015-16.
“I am extremely grateful to join Central Connecticut State University as the men’s basketball coach,” Marshall said. “I would like to thank President Jack Miller, Dr. Richard Bachoo, Paul Schlickmann and the members of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Blue Devils. It is exciting to come back to Connecticut – a place I consider my second home.
It’s a great honor to coach a program that has been built by such coaching greats as Bill Detrick and Howie Dickenman and I look forward to adding to the successful legacy of CCSU basketball. I am excited to get to work with our student-athletes and anxious to begin the work necessary to get the program back to where it needs to be.”
Marshall and the Bulls reached the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16 after becoming the first team in 14 years to repeat as Mid-American Conference champions. Marshall handled duties as the recruiting coordinator and player development in helping Buffalo post a 20-15 overall record this past season. His work with the squad resulted in four student-athletes earning postseason All-MAC, All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team recognition.
Prior to joining the staff at Buffalo, Marshall spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Rider University. In 2014-15 he helped the Broncs tie the program record with 21 wins and post its best MAAC record at 15-5. The squad earned a postseason invitation to the College Basketball Invitational that season.
Before entering coaching, Marshall enjoyed a 15-year playing career in the NBA. He was the No. 4 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1994 NBA Draft and was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team pick. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during his career and tied the single-game record for three-pointers with 12 against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2005.
He is one of just six players in NBA history to have 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 750 blocks and 750 three-pointers in a career. He played with eight NBA franchises during his career and appeared in the 2007 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. During his career, Marshall played alongside players such as, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Marshall began his coaching career at George Washington University in 2010-11 where he was involved in all coaching aspects, including recruiting, opponent scouting and player development. He helped the Colonials to a 17-14 record overall and a 10-6 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
He also spent a season as an assistant coach in the professional ranks with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.
Marshall enjoyed a highly-decorated collegiate playing career at the University of Connecticut, where he was named to the school’s All-Century Team after finishing with 1,648 points in three seasons. As the program’s first consensus All-America First Team honoree and a BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year in 1993-94, he averaged 25.1 points per game and helped the Huskies win 29 games. He set single-season school records for points (855), field goals made (307) and free throws made (200) that year which stood until broken by Kemba Walker in 2010-11.
http://ccsubluedevils.com/sports/mbkb/2015-16/releases/20160405lsqhjk
Photo Courtesy CCSU Athletics
