New Florida Atlantic coach’s first priority: Keeping his own players
John Jakus is already recruiting at Florida Atlantic. Among his top targets: players with plenty of collegiate experience who have been part of 60 wins over the past two years and made it to the Final Four last season.
They’re already in Boca Raton. And Jakus wants them to stay.
Jakus’ introductory news conference at FAU was Friday afternoon in Boca Raton, and his first public act as the school’s new coach was speaking directly to those players who have decisions to make — stay or go? — and state his case for them to come back next season.
“I just asked them one thing: ‘Give me a chance. Give me a chance,’ ” said Jakus, whose five-year deal pays $1 million a year. “And the reality of the situation is if you leave, maybe you find something better. But I doubt it. Because what you’ve built here and what you’ve built as friends is fantastic.”
Jakus’ arrival at FAU’s arena was accompanied by a standing ovation from fans and boosters, a blaring school pep band and cheerleaders waving pompoms in the air. And it took about two minutes before the new FAU coach was greeted by expectations, too.
“Coach, you know we’re going back to the tournament next year, right?” FAU President Stacy Volnick said, as those in the gym roared in approval.
It’s a new era at FAU, but the goals won’t change, and Jakus wouldn’t have it any other way. The former Baylor associate head coach was hired Wednesday night to replace Dusty May — who left after six seasons for Michigan, ending a run where he took the Owls to the Final Four a year ago and back to the NCAA Tournament this year.
“I’m going to fight like crazy to keep you,” Jakus told the players. “And I’m just going to tell you this real quick: If you’re a seasonticket holder, I wouldn’t give that up. If you’re a student who had to wait in line because it’s so hard to get into this place, I’d tell you to get here earlier next year.”
Duquesne hires Joyce:
Duquesne didn’t look far to replace retired head coach Keith Dambrot.
The Dukes promoted assistant Dru Joyce to take over for Dambrot, who stepped down last week after leading the school to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1977.
“Dru exhibited a clear vision for our program going forward and understands the challenge of keeping our recent success a possibility in the years ahead,” Duquesne athletic director Dave Harper said in a statement. “It’s now imperative that we support him, his staff and the program with all that is needed to continue to be successful.”
Joyce spent the past two seasons sitting next to Dambrot on the Duquesne bench. The Dukes have a 45-25 record over that span, including a 25-12 record this season. Duquesne won the Atlantic 10 Tournament and then beat sixth-seeded BYU in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to third-seeded Illinois.
Joyce, a lifelong friend and former high school teammate of NBA star LeBron James, said in a statement he has wanted to be a Division I coach since he was a teenager.
“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to make an impact with the student-athletes, coaches and staff to make our program one that Duquesne and the surrounding region can be proud of,” Joyce said.
James gave his good friend a shoutout in a post on X.
“So damn happy and proud of you my brother,” James wrote.
Duquesne president Ken Gormley called Joyce a “key figure” in the school’s return to contention.
Joyce, 39, played with James at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in Akron, Ohio, in the early 2000s before spending four years at Akron. He went into coaching in 2019.