Siena Men’s Basketball Head Coach Carmen Maciariello has announced the hiring of Darius Theus as an assistant coach. A key member of the magical 2011 VCU Final Four squad, Theus joins the Saints after spending the past four seasons as the Director of Player Development at his alma mater.
“I’m excited to add Darius Theus to our staff,” said Maciariello. “Bottom line, he’s a winner. He will be integral in our success both on and off the court, and a welcome addition to our staff.”
A proven winner, Theus’ teams have averaged 24 wins while posting a 240-99 (.708) overall record including a 120-54 (.690) conference mark, and have earned seven NCAA Tournament berths spanning his 10 seasons as both a student athlete and coaching staff member at the Division I level. Following a standout playing career at VCU (2009-13), Theus played professionally in Europe for three years (2013-16) before returning to the States to serve on the coaching staffs of the Rams (2016-17, 2018-22) and the University of Texas (2017-18).
“I’m very excited to join Coach Carm’s staff,” remarked Theus. “I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity, and am excited to get to work. I’m looking forward to helping our program achieve great success.”
A rising star, Theus, 31, joins Maciariello’s staff after spending the past four seasons as the Director of Player Development under head coach Mike Rhoades at his alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University (2018-22). VCU amassed an 84-38 (.689) overall record including a 48-20 (.706) mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference, while earning a pair of NCAA Tournament berths, an NIT appearance, and an A-10 Regular Season Championship during Theus’ four-year stint. The Rams achieved a 22-10 record this past season including a 14-4 ledger in the A-10, while advancing to the Second Round of the NIT.
Theus spent the 2017-18 season at Texas, where he was the Director of Player Development under head coach Shaka Smart. The Longhorns won 19 games in Theus’ lone season in Austin, while earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Theus first joined the collegiate coaching ranks when he returned to VCU to serve in a similar role as the Director of Student Athlete Development for the 2016-17 season. The Rams posted a 26-9 overall record and were 14-4 in the A-10 while receiving an NCAA Tournament berth that year.
Theus starred at point guard for VCU, where he helped lead the Rams to three NCAA Tournament appearances – highlighted by an historic 2011 Final Four run – and a 2010 College Basketball Invitational Championship. The first official signee for Shaka Smart and his staff upon their arrival at VCU, Theus was named the 2012 Colonial Athletic Association Tournament Most Outstanding Player and a Third Team All-CAA selection following his junior season, and capped his brilliant career by earning Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team honors at the conclusion of his senior year in 2012-13. He appeared in 146 career games (75 starts) for VCU, and ranks tied for third all-time in program history in steals (237) and eighth in assists (462). The Rams amassed a stellar 111-37 (.750) overall record during Theus’ four seasons on the court.
Following his decorated collegiate playing career, Theus played professionally in Europe for three years for Aris Leeuwarden (2013-14) in The Netherlands, and SC Rasta Vechta (2015) and the Nurnberg Falcons (2015-16) both in Germany’s ProA League. During his one season at Aris Leeuwarden, Theus was named the Dutch Basketball League Statistical Player of the Year, an All-Defensive Team selection, and a DBL All-Star after leading the league in scoring (16.9), steals (3.1), and field goal percentage.
A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Theus earned his B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013. Theus and his wife, Ladonna, are the proud parents to daughter Laila, 8, and son Emory, 1.
Theus joins a Siena Men’s Basketball program looking to build off four straight top-three MAAC finishes.
Darius Theus Appointed Siena Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach
