Eastern Michigan University Head Men’s Basketball Coach Rob Murphy has announced the promotion of Kevin Mondro to associate head coach.
Mondro completed his sixth season as an assistant coach with the program. He has 20 years of Division I experience, including six postseason appearances. Mondro has been instrumental in the growth of the Eastern Michigan program as a whole and in the successes of the recruiting classes.
“Coach Mondro has made a huge impact on our program the past six years in every area imaginable,” said Murphy. “Dro’s diligent preparation, wealth of basketball knowledge and commitment to excellence continues to demonstrate why he is one of the best assistant coaches in all of college basketball.”
“I am grateful for everything that Coach Murphy has done for me professionally,” Mondro added. “We (Liz, JJ, and I) consider Coach Murphy as part of our extended family. We love the EMU community and living in the Ypsilanti area. I am very excited for this upcoming basketball season. As always, my commitment is to help Coach Murphy take this basketball program to the next level”
In six seasons at EMU, Mondro has helped the Eagles turn around of the men’s basketball program, including milestones such as the 2012 Mid-American Conference West Division Championship, a run to the semifinals of the 2013-14 MAC Tournament and a postseason berth for the first time since the 1997-98 season when the Green and White earned a spot in the 2014 CollegeInsider.com Tournament. Under the help of Mondro’s tutelage, the Green and White found itself in the 2015 College Basketball Invitational as well.
Mondro works with the forwards and centers at Eastern. During his tenure he has coached Da’Shonte Riley, EMU’s first-ever Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Glenn Bryant who earned All-MAC Honorable Mention accolades in 2012-13. Most recently, Mondro helped James Thompson IV to the Eagles’ second-ever MAC Freshman of the Year award in 2015-16, and All-MAC Second Team honors in 2016-17.
Mondro joined the EMU staff after spending three seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Loyola (Chicago) University.
Mondro had a tremendous impact on the Loyola program during his three seasons on the staff, coaching two of the top players ever to wear the Maroon and Gold – J.R. Blount and Andy Polka. During his tenure, Loyola recorded 44 total wins, and the Ramblers graduated each of its seniors during that stretch.
The 42-year-old Mondro is a 1997 graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy where he earned three basketball letters while playing for the Titans.
After graduation, Mondro joined the UDM staff as a director of basketball operations for four years before being promoted to a full-time assistant position in 1998-99. He was on the staff for 11 years, the final five as the associate head coach. He was also the interim head coach for the second half of the 2007-08 season when Head Coach Perry Watson took a leave of absence.
During his UDM coaching stint, Mondro was part of the staff that posted four straight 20-plus win seasons, including qualifying for the NCAA Tournament in both 1997-98 and 1998-99 as well as being selected for two National Invitation Tournament bids, in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
At Detroit, Mondro worked primarily with the Titans’ perimeter players and his influence helped former NBA player Willie Green, who is a current assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, earn Horizon League Player of the Year accolades in 2003. In addition to his on-the-court coaching, Mondro played an active role in scouting and in scheduling, while also serving as the staff’s recruiting coordinator and director of the Perry Watson Basketball Camp.
A native of Dover, N.H. Mondro grew up in Brownstown, Mich. and graduated from Riverview Gabriel Richard High School in 1993 after earning All-Catholic League honors as a basketball player. Mondro and his wife, Liz, now reside in Ypsilanti with their son, Jeremiah.
http://www.emueagles.com/news/2017/6/12/mondro-elevated-to-associate-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
