’07 grad named Young Alumni Award winner

Dan Purcell, Lake Erie College Class of 2007, said he is “floored” to be the 2017 Young Alumni Award recipient.

The Young Alumni Award is given to an individual who has graduated from Lake Erie College within the last 10 years and is making his or her mark in the world.

“It’s really humbling when people take notice of you and your hard work,” Purcell said during a telephone interview from his home in New Orleans.

The 33-year-old Burton native and Berkshire High School graduate is basketball operations manager of the NBA’s New Orleans

Pelicans.

Purcell said he fondly remembers his experiences as a student and member of the men’s basketball team at the Painesville college.

“Going to class every day and completing assignments, that was the hard stuff,” Purcell said. “Then came the games and practice, being coached by (former LEC men’s coach) Cliff Hunt and having all those great teammates. We played together and we did things the right way. It was always about the next guy and how do we win. I grew as a human being by being part of that group. Now, I’m in the NBA.”

Purcell was a four-year letterman in high school, playing for coaches Dave List and John Hall Jr. He

was recruited by LEC, then a Division III program, by coach Jim Dolan. Hunt took over as coach in November 2005, days before the start of the season, when Dolan was fired.

Purcell was a valuable reserve player for Hunt over the two most successful seasons in program history. The Storm had a combined record of 4610 over the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons, gaining automatic bids to the NCAA Division III tournament both seasons.

Hunt, who retired after the 2015-16 season, said he was pleased but not surprised that Purcell is the newest recipient of this award.

“Dan knew he wanted

to get into basketball on the management side after graduation,” Hunt said. “As a player, you could tell Dan was a student of the game. He was always in the right place at the right time. And you couldn’t find a better teammate.”

Purcell’s father, Dan Purcell Sr., is a Mentor resident. His sister, Colleen Hall, lives in Burton.

An important life event probably will prevent Purcell from accepting the award in person, during LEC’s homecoming football game against Urbana on Sept. 16. Purcell said his girlfriend, New Orleans resident Jesse Campora, is due to deliver their baby boy on Sept. 10.

“If he comes a little early, I’ll be there,” Purcell said, laughing.

In the event he can’t make it, Purcell has asked Hunt to accept the award on his behalf.

Purcell