UConn staff update

UConn men’s basketball head coach Kevin Ollie today announced the appointment of two additions to his coaching staff. David Sevush has been named Director of Scouting-Video, while Dan Griffin has been named Director of Player Development.

Sevush, 28, has assumed his new position following two seasons as a graduate assistant coach. He will be involved in practice and game planning, player workouts, opponent scouting, film breakdown and on-campus recruiting.

"Dave has contributed a lot to our program as a grad assistant the last two years and he will be even more involved as a fulltime member of the staff," Ollie said. "We’re pleased that he is going to remain part of our team."

Sevush earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UConn in 2010 and a master’s degree in Kinesiology with a specialty in Sports Management from UConn in 2014. He served as a UConn student manager from 2007-10 and following his graduation, Sevush did a year-long internship in Basketball Operations with the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats and became an administrative assistant with the team. He then moved on to Florida State, serving as Assistant Video Coordinator for the men’s basketball program before returning to Storrs in 2012-13 to work on his master’s degree and joining the coaching staff.

Griffin, 43, will be working primarily on the off-court development of the student-athletes, dealing with their roles as productive, positive forces within their communities. He will have close interaction with the UConn players and assist them as they progress through college.

"I think it’s important for us to have someone who can focus on the players’ development off the court," Ollie said. "Dan will be able to help them become more well-rounded people, which will help them succeed no matter what they do after they leave college."

Griffin brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, having played and later coached under legendary Coach Willie West at Los Angeles’ Crenshaw High School. In college, he played under both Jerry Tarkanian and Rollie Massimino at UNLV before transferring and finishing is career under Al Skinner at Rhode Island.

Knee surgery stopped an attempt at a pro career overseas, but Griffin was a physical education teacher for 10 years in Compton, Calif., and has been a motivational speaker and a business entrepreneur prior to joining the UConn staff.

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