Retiring Don DiJulia finally gets his turn in Hall-of-Fame limelight
Coaches of the Year:
Wright and Harry Villanova
Jay Perretta,
Players of the Year:
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, and Tanaya Atkinson, Temple
Scholar Athletes of the Year:
Jalen Brunson, Villanova, and Sarah Veilleux, Saint Joseph’s
Rookies of the Year:
Omari Spellman, Villanova, and Eleah Parker, Penn
B.J. Johnson, La Salle, and Tanaya Atkinson, Temple
Leading Scorers: Most Improved Players:
Eric Paschall and Kelly Jekot, Villanova
Top Free-Throw Shooters:
B.J. Johnson, La Salle, and Chelsea Woods,Saint Joseph’s
Men’s First Team:
Villanova
Jalen Brunson, Omari Spellman, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova), B.J. Johnson (La Salle)
Men’s Second Team:
Ryan Betley and A.J. Brodeur (Penn), James Demery and Shavar Newkirk (Saint Joseph’s), Quinton Rose (Temple)
Women’s First Team:
Tanaya Atkinson (Temple), Chelsea Woods (Saint Joseph’s), Amy Griffin (La Salle), Alex Louin (Villanova) and Michelle Nwokedi (Penn)
Women’s Second Team:
Eleah Parker and Anna Ross (Penn), Sarah Veilleux (Saint Joseph’s), Kelly Jekot, Mary Gedaka and Adrianna Hahn (Villanova) PHILADELPHIA » The OLP/ St. James contingent had a prominent seat for the Big 5 banquet Monday night at the Palestra.
They were seated in the first row of section 119, in the west end of the grand old building on 33rd Street.
And if you don’t know that OLP stands for Our Lady of Peace, located in Milmont Park ... well, you’re just not from Delco.
The OLP boys where there to see one of their own, Don DiJulia, who will retire at the end of the year as the athletic director at Saint Joseph’s University, inducted into the Big 5 Hall of Fame.
“We wouldn’t miss this,” said Tom Wynne, a Big 5 Hall-of-Famer.
“No one is more deserving,” added Tom Galia.
That was the prevailing sentiment as DiJulia joined the late Rasual Butler (La Salle), Pat Calathes (Saint Joseph’s), Candice Dupree (Temple), Natasha Rezek (Penn) and Curtis Sumpter (Villanova) in the Class of 2018.
Basketball referee and 1982 Saint Joseph’s grad Jeffrey Clark made sure he was in attendance for the ceremony.
“I wouldn’t have missed this for anything,” Clark said.
“Try saying the words ‘Big 5 basketball,’ without the words ‘Don DiJulia,’” St. Joe’s men’s basketball coach Phil Martelli said. “You can’t. You can’t say ‘St. Joe’s basketball’ without Don DiJulia. You can’t say ‘Philadelphia,’ really, without Don DiJulia. So in this year of champions, the Eagles, these young men up here (from Villanova), he’s being celebrated tonight as a champion.”
DiJulia has left his mark during two stints as the AD on Hawk Hill that covered 35 years and will come to an end when he retires at the end of the academic year. He oversaw the addition of five varsity programs, a new weight training facility, the start of and athletic fund drives and the upgrade and creation of new athletic facilities.
Yet he may be best known for being seen at every function imaginable. If it involved Saint Joseph’s University, DiJulia was there.
“I think all the studentathletes need to feel supported by all the administrators on campus,” DiJulia said. “We can say it, but if they never see us, it doesn’t mean anything. The visual effect means something, so we try to be there for all the student-athletes, as I would be here tonight to see some of them honored.”
His visibility led to lasting relationships, like the ones he shares with what he calls “The OLP playground boys.”
“When I announced I was leaving (last October), I heard from a lot of people through the decades,” DiJulia said.
DiJulia choked up at the mere thought of all the wellwishes he received at that time and he was just as touched by his induction to the Big 5 Hall of Fame.
“It’s meaningful and it does have value to me because I’ve been part of the Big 5 for such a long time in different roles,” he said. “I value what the Big 5 stands for and to me, two words jump out. There’s tradition and passion, but I call it a collaborated, spirited, intense local rivalry played with great sportsmanship unlike any other.”
And now DiJulia is part of that legacy forever.
“It’s years late, but it’s years late because of him, not because of the Big 5 or other athletic directors,” Martelli said. “He is as fine a man as I’ve met. And then you add in athletics, where it’s all ego-driven. He has no ego. He is completely selfless and to have him honored, to be honest, there was no Big 5 Hall of Fame until tonight. Now it’s official.”
*** Sumpter said he had no clue what the Big 5 was all about when he arrived at Villanova from Brooklyn in the fall of 2002. Jay Wright tried to use it as a selling point during the recruiting process, but Sumpter wasn’t buying it.
“All I cared about was the Big East,” Sumpter said. “I didn’t want to hear about the Big 5.”
He quickly received a in just how intense City Series can be.
“We lost to Penn and we were down 40-9 to St. Joe’s right here at the Palestra,” Sumpter said. “I realized then that the Big 5 was no joke.”
Sumpter overcame a pair of knee injuries to have an outstanding career for the Wildcats. A two-time All-Big 5 pick, Sumpter scored 1,651 points and grabbed 794 rebounds in his career.
“I’m from Brooklyn in New York, we take a lot of pride in which borough you’re from, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island,” lesson the Sumpter said. “It’s the same with the Big 5. You’re proud to be from Villanova, Penn, St. Joe’s, Temple and Penn and to be part of this is very humbling.”
*** Butler scored 2,125 points in his career and earned AllBig 5 honors three times before going off to a successful career in the NBA. Butler died in an automobile accident Jan. 31.
The 6-10 Calathes tallied 1,251 points and still holds the SJU record for consecutive free throws made (38). His daughter, Raven, accepted the honor on her father’s behalf.
Dupree was a two-time Big 5 Player of the Year and ranks third in program history in career points (1,698) and rebounds (968).
Rezek was a two-time AllBig 5 first team selection. He ranks sixth in program history in scoring (1,265) and second in rebounding (972).