Illinois head basketball coach John Groce announced Friday that Darren Hertz has joined the staff in the role of special assistant to the head coach. Hertz comes to the Fighting Illini from the University of Florida, where he spent 19 seasons working for former Gators head coach Billy Donovan.
“Darren is a perfect fit for this position; he brings the total package to the University of Illinois,” Groce said. “Darren spent nearly two decades assisting one of the most successful and innovative coaches in the country in Billy Donovan. He made contributions in every administrative area while at Florida including team and individual video analysis, opponent scouting, game planning, scheduling, film exchange, summer camps, travel, meals, and supervising student managers. That experience will allow for a seamless transition as he joins our program. We are always striving to get better, and Darren also will bring new ideas and perspective to the table.”
During Hertz’s 19-year association with Florida basketball, the Gators totaled 467 wins, two national championships, four Final Fours, 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, six Southeastern Conference regular season championships and four SEC tournament titles.
“Darren and I have worked together for 19 years. There is not a more loyal person,” the former Florida and current Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Donovan said. “Illinois is getting an extremely talented and gifted individual who will bring great value to everyone in so many different ways. I am excited for Darren, John (Groce), and Fighting Illini basketball!”
Hertz spent the last three years as Director of Basketball Operations, leading the daily operations of the Gator program including scheduling, organizing recruiting, planning team travel, and directing the Billy Donovan summer camps.
That followed a seven-year tenure as Assistant to the Head Coach, where he was charged with similar administrative duties while continuing his work with video scouting and edits and hiring and overseeing the team’s student managers.
Hertz became Florida’s first Video Coordinator in 2001, which evolved into a full-time position in July 2003. During his time as video coordinator he was responsible for running various editing systems, breaking down film for opponent scouting, making individual and team edits from practices and games, producing motivational videos and coordinating film exchange.
Hertz began his tenure in the Florida basketball program as a student assistant during Donovan’s first season as head coach in 1996-97 and continued working with Gator basketball as a UF graduate student before assuming the role of video coordinator.
“I want to thank Coach Groce, Mike Thomas, Jason Lener and the entire Illinois athletics administration for this wonderful opportunity,” Hertz said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the tradition of Fighting Illini basketball and feel honored to now be a part of it. I am excited to start working with such an excellent coach and person in John Groce. Additionally, I am looking forward to working with the rest of this talented, cohesive staff.
“I leave behind numerous incredible memories with Gator basketball at the University of Florida, my alma mater,” Hertz continued. “My time there will forever be cherished. I will always be thankful to Coach Donovan, Jeremy Foley and the UF athletics department. Now, my family and I look forward to this next journey joining the Champaign-Urbana community and the University of Illinois family.”
The Miami native was an All-Dade County point guard as a senior at Miami Killian High School. Hertz earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Florida in 1997 and obtained a master’s degree in sport management from UF in 2001. He was an instructor for the University of Florida’s College of Health and Human Performance from 1999-2001 while earning his master’s.
http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/062615aaa.html
Photo Courtesy Illinois Athletics
