A former two-time team MVP and three-year captain, D.J. Irving (’14) has rejoined the Boston University men’s basketball team in a new role, head coach Joe Jones announced.
The Chester, Pa., native will serve as a special assistant to his former coach and will focus his time on alumni relations, mentoring current players and acting as a liaison for the program in community outreach initiatives.
“I speak for everyone in our program when I say that we are excited to have D.J. back home at BU,” said Jones. “He brings an excellent perspective on what it takes to be a successful student-athlete here. As a four-year starter, D.J. was the consummate winner always putting the team before his own personal success. He has a bright future as a leader of young men, and I am looking forward to witnessing his growth.”
Irving returns to Commonwealth Ave. after spending the past year working as the business manager for current Brooklyn Net Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. While helping the 2015 NBA First Round draft pick transition from the college ranks to the NBA, he served as the direct contact with different sponsors. Irving also watched film with Hollis-Jefferson and helped him with on-court skill work.
Prior to working with Hollis-Jefferson, Irving spent one year as a team manager at Penn State. Day-to-day responsibilities included player development, preparing scout information and assisting both the video coordinator and director of basketball operations with daily tasks.
During his time donning the scarlet and white, he started in 121 of 128 games played and logged 4,126 career minutes, third most in program history. He graduated fifth all-time in assists (470) and ninth in points (1,439) with a bachelor’s in sociology. His class was just the third ever to reach three postseason appearances over a four-year period.
A four-time All-Conference honoree, Irving quickly demonstrated his talents by tallying 11 points, six assists and five rebounds against Kansas his freshman season in the second round of the NCAA tournament. He arguably had his best year as a junior in which he ranked in the top 10 in seven America East categories – including sixth in scoring (14.2 ppg) and seventh in steals (1.4 spg) – and received Mid-Major All-America accolades.
In his final season, Irving torched Maryland with 25 points in just 22 minutes played to help the Terriers stun the Terrapins, 82-77, on the road. He helped the Terriers claim the conference regular season title in their first year as a member of the Patriot League and reach the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) for the first time since 2005.
http://www.goterriers.com/news/2016/9/12/terrier-alum-d-j-irving-14-joins-mens-basketball-staff.aspx
