Danes’ coach has big plans
Killings offers promise of fast action, positive impact and success
Dwayne Killings says he’ll install a more up-tempo playing style as he takes over the Ualbany men’s basketball program.
As news conferences go, the one held Thursday afternoon by the University at Albany to introduce Dwayne Killings as the new basketball coach was assembled rather quickly, less than 24 hours after the official announcement of the hiring.
Expect Killings’ version of the Great Danes to play the same way.
The next era of Ualbany basketball, featuring Killings — associate coach at Marquette the past three seasons — is underway, and he said it is his intention to play a more uptempo style than his predecessor, Will Brown, whose contract was not renewed after 20 seasons at the school.
“I want to make sure our style fits the guys that we have,” Killings said to an audience of media, school officials and a few players from both the men’s and women’s teams. “We’re going to be up-tempo and exciting. We’re going to make sure we get you guys out of your chair, but we got to make sure we get the right pieces.”
Athletic director Mark Benson said he and his staff consulted with former and current players, prominent alumni, donors and others to gauge what qualities the new hire should have.
“In terms of basketball, the notion of more of an up-tempo style came through across the board,” Benson said. “Studentathletes like to play in that type of system. Fans like to watch that type of basketball.
“We wanted to see somebody that has a high character, high integrity, that’s going to do things the right way, that’s going to have our players, our community’s best interest at heart, and has demonstrated that. D.K. is somebody that is has done that over a long period of time.”
A native of Amherst, Mass., Killings, 39, had previous assistant coaching stints at Connecticut (2016-18) and Temple (201116). Before that he was a special assistant with Charlotte in the NBA and later worked for the NBA’S D-league, monitoring
player development programs.
The university produced a video presentation, which included testimonials from Kentucky coach John Calipari (who was coaching Massachusetts when Killings was a ball boy), Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff and former Temple coach Fran Dunphy. Killings called Bickerstaff, who worked with him with Charlotte, one of his closest friends.
Calipari: “The best thing I can tell you about Dwayne, he’s a good man. His reputation in our profession (is) sparkling.”
Bickerstaff: “Congratulations. You landed a star.”
Dunphy: “Wishing you all the very best as you go about this next number of years.”
University president Havidan Rodriguez introduced Killings at the news conference.
“I had the opportunity to talk with Dwayne Killings last week,” said Rodriguez, who made it a point to thank Brown for his past contributions. “Soon after I got off the Zoom call, I realized we had found someone very special. Of course, coach Killings and I discussed his professional trajectory and his accomplishments, but most importantly we talked about values, we talked about aspirations, we talked about family, both our own families and the Ualbany family. We talked about student success and community engagement. It was clear to me that coach Killings’ philosophy, views and values matched up very well with our aspirations here at the University at Albany.”
Killings’ parents, who still live in Amherst, were on hand, as was his wife, Ana, and their children: 6-year-old daughter Alecia and 3-year-old son Tristan.
“I belong here,” Killings said. “My family belongs here. We’re going to do amazing things in the Capital Region, because in my heart and my soul, I want to impact people. All you guys are spread out right now because of COVID, I’m going to bring you closer once we can. It’s my job to make sure our basketball program leads people the right way. I’ve got to develop those young men. I’ve got to touch their hearts and their souls. If I can do that I can help us put a (championship) banner in this building.”