LORETTO, Pa. (May 16, 2007) – Teamwork, hard work and family were three key points newly appointed Saint Francis men's basketball head coach Don Friday emphasized when he was introduced to the media and community on Friday morning in DeGol Arena.
Friday was announced as the new Red Flash head coach late on Wednesday night. He, his wife Amy, and nine-year-old son Donald were greeted to a crowd estimated at 100 in the Stokes Twyman Room.
The former Lycoming head coach and assistant at Bucknell inherits a team that returns all 13 players from a squad that finished 6-23 overall, and 4-14 in the Northeast Conference, this past season.
Friday spent the past five seasons as head coach at Lycoming College, where he compiled an 83-49 record. In 19 years as a collegiate coach, the St. Clair, Pa. native has been on the court for 313 wins, including a Division III national title at Lebanon Valley in 1994.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES:
Director of Athletics Bob Krimmel
“This is definitely a time of change and excitement on our campus. When this process began, a person that came to mind was a person I watched emerge as a basketball coach over many years. I have watched him evolve as a coach. He recruited my son and I have seen him recruit and go through the coaching process up close. I have been able to see him interact with people. I have been thoroughly impressed with him.”
“We need a coach that engages our entire community. I remember all of those extra amenities he's done as a coach and I felt he has the characteristics we are looking for at Saint Francis. He has an extremely optimistic personality and believes we can get things done even if some people think otherwise.”
“He brings a background as a teacher, a recruiter, a person of passion and a person of integrity who will embrace our Franciscan values”
Head Men's Basketball Coach Don Friday
“I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win. We have to look forward. We have to look past the 'Here we go again,' and say 'Here we go.' Success does not come before hard work. Our kids have to understand how to get better as a team concept, and they will.”
“I will promise you when our kids walk into a situation, they will represent Saint Francis with dignity and class.”
“I am a big believer in team play. We will play together and will play hard. We will spend a lot of hours on the court and in the classroom”
“I recognize that the men's basketball program is part of the entire athletic department here. I see alumni, former coaches, boosters, student-athletes in this room today. I understand the basketball team is part of many. Everyone here at Saint Francis from the maintenance person setting up the court for a game to the lunch lady who gets up at 7 a.m. over Christmas break to feed our kids is part of our team. We welcome that, and recognize it as part of being at Saint Francis.”
“We will run a motion game and push the basketball on misses. Defensively, we will take great pride. You can expect our teams when they win to shake the other teams hand and do it with class. When we lose, we'll put our shirt and tie on and pack our hard hats on top of our gear and get right back to work at DeGol Arena. You can expect our players to have busted up elbows with strawberries on them. They will have a lot of pride and it starts with their head coach.”
“The success early on will be about feeling good about ourselves. I want to make sure our team and staff is integrated as part of a whole as the Franciscan values of Saint Francis.”
“When I think of recruiting here, I think of location and I think of a beautiful campus. We have to know our product. We must understand the right type of fit. As a parent, I understand that you want to put your kids in a situation where they can succeed. We need to begin right away with building that trust early on with our potential recruits. Trust is earned, not given. That is something we must instill throughout the recruiting process. Our recruits will be able to see all the behind the scenes work that makes this place so special.”
“I have been very impressed with the players that I've spoken to so far. I have not talked to all of them, but I have talked to some in varying degrees form freshman to seniors. There are kids that believe in this university. They will work hard and pay the price to bask in the successes of what they will hopefully bring to Saint Francis.”
Friday was announced as the new Red Flash head coach late on Wednesday night. He, his wife Amy, and nine-year-old son Donald were greeted to a crowd estimated at 100 in the Stokes Twyman Room.
The former Lycoming head coach and assistant at Bucknell inherits a team that returns all 13 players from a squad that finished 6-23 overall, and 4-14 in the Northeast Conference, this past season.
Friday spent the past five seasons as head coach at Lycoming College, where he compiled an 83-49 record. In 19 years as a collegiate coach, the St. Clair, Pa. native has been on the court for 313 wins, including a Division III national title at Lebanon Valley in 1994.
PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES:
Director of Athletics
Bob Krimmel
“This is definitely a time of change and excitement on our campus. When this process began, a person that came to mind was a person I watched emerge as a basketball coach over many years. I have watched him evolve as a coach. He recruited my son and I have seen him recruit and go through the coaching process up close. I have been able to see him interact with people. I have been thoroughly impressed with him.”
“We need a coach that engages our entire community. I remember all of those extra amenities he's done as a coach and I felt he has the characteristics we are looking for at Saint Francis. He has an extremely optimistic personality and believes we can get things done even if some people think otherwise.”
“He brings a background as a teacher, a recruiter, a person of passion and a person of integrity who will embrace our Franciscan values”
Head Men's Basketball Coach Don Friday
“I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could win. We have to look forward. We have to look past the 'Here we go again,' and say 'Here we go.' Success does not come before hard work. Our kids have to understand how to get better as a team concept, and they will.”
“I will promise you when our kids walk into a situation, they will represent Saint Francis with dignity and class.”
“I am a big believer in team play. We will play together and will play hard. We will spend a lot of hours on the court and in the classroom”
“I recognize that the men's basketball program is part of the entire athletic department here. I see alumni, former coaches, boosters, student-athletes in this room today. I understand the basketball team is part of many. Everyone here at Saint Francis from the maintenance person setting up the court for a game to the lunch lady who gets up at 7 a.m. over Christmas break to feed our kids is part of our team. We welcome that, and recognize it as part of being at Saint Francis.”
“We will run a motion game and push the basketball on misses. Defensively, we will take great pride. You can expect our teams when they win to shake the other teams hand and do it with class. When we lose, we'll put our shirt and tie on and pack our hard hats on top of our gear and get right back to work at DeGol Arena. You can expect our players to have busted up elbows with strawberries on them. They will have a lot of pride and it starts with their head coach.”
“The success early on will be about feeling good about ourselves. I want to make sure our team and staff is integrated as part of a whole as the Franciscan values of Saint Francis.”
“When I think of recruiting here, I think of location and I think of a beautiful campus. We have to know our product. We must understand the right type of fit. As a parent, I understand that you want to put your kids in a situation where they can succeed. We need to begin right away with building that trust early on with our potential recruits. Trust is earned, not given. That is something we must instill throughout the recruiting process. Our recruits will be able to see all the behind the scenes work that makes this place so special.”
“I have been very impressed with the players that I've spoken to so far. I have not talked to all of them, but I have talked to some in varying degrees form freshman to seniors. There are kids that believe in this university. They will work hard and pay the price to bask in the successes of what they will hopefully bring to Saint Francis.”
