Following up on our D3 DIRT from earlier today…
Following an extremely successful three years at the helm of the Emmanuel College men’s basketball program, Head Coach Danny Lawson has notified the Emmanuel Athletic Department that he has accepted the lead Assistant Coaching spot at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).
This announcement comes on the heels of UMBD Director of Athletic Brian Barrio announcing the hiring of Jim Ferry as UMBC’s new head men’s basketball coach. Ferry and Lawson coached on the same staffs at both LIU Brooklyn (now Long Island University) and Duquesne for a total of seven years together.
“I am forever indebted to Emmanuel College, it’s administration, coaches, and staff,” said Lawson. “My experience working and coaching at Emmanuel has been one of the most positive of my career. None of this would have been possible without the support, commitment and efforts of our players – both current and former. Lastly, I want to sincerely thank Coach Tell White and the rest of our coaching staff – who helped create a great experience for the players and an environment within the men’s basketball program that resulted in the biggest win improvement in the NCAA. I will always consider myself a Saint! Thank you!”
During his time with the Saints, Lawson compiled an overall record of 37-15 (.712) over two official seasons of play, including a 15-7 record in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.
In his first season at Emmanuel, Lawson did a remarkable job leading the team to an 18-8 record to show an overall improvement of 14.5 games from the previous campaign, the largest in the country, en route to being named the 2019 D3Hoops.com Northeast Region Coach of the Year. The 18 totals wins is the third-highest single-season total in program history and the Saints earned the right to host a GNAC playoff game for the first time in 10 seasons, picking up the win to advance to the GNAC Semifinals.
He followed up his stellar Head Coaching debut with a 19-7 mark in 2019-20, posting the program’s highest single-season winning percentage at .731 while leading the Saints to a home GNAC playoff berth for the second consecutive season.
“It’s difficult to say goodbye to someone who meant so much to our Athletic Department in such a short amount of time,” said Assistant Athletic Director Dan Campagna. “Danny exceeded all the expectations that came with his hire and under his direction and leadership, the men’s basketball program made tremendous strides both on and off the court. We’re sad to see him leave but wish him the best of luck with the [UMBC] Retrievers.”
Lawson came to Emmanuel after serving as an Assistant Coach during the 2017-18 season at Endicott College where he helped coach the Gulls to a 19-9 season which included a win over a NCAA top-10 opponent and an appearance in the Coastal Commonwealth Conference (CCC) Championship.
https://www.goecsaints.com/sports/m-baskbl/2020-21/releases/20210423o2ckid
