On Tuesday, the increasingly popular Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball program named Drew Valentine as their new head coach, following Porter Moses’ decision to take over as the head coach for the Oklahoma Sooners’ men’s basketball team.
At 29-years-old, Drew is the youngest Division I men’s basketball coaches in the country.
A former college player who was considered a defensive specialist by Moser, Drew would make an official statement after his hiring, saying “it is an absolute honor to be named head men’s basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago”
“I’d like to congratulate one of the biggest mentors and role models in my life, Coach Moser, on his new opportunity at the University of Oklahoma. The impact that he has made on this entire university will not be forgotten.
We will continue to do things the right way, with character and passion! The vision and standard that Coach Moser established will forever remain a part of the culture.”
Valentine (who is the brother of Chicago Bulls wing Denzel Valentine) served as an assistant coach for the Ramblers since 2017 following stints at his alma mater (Oakland University) under Greg Kampe and Michigan State Univetsity under Tom Izzo. He served as a graduate assistant at Michigan State while Denzel was there as a player.
When asked about his elder brother’s hiring, Denzel had nothing but praise, saying that he “probably wouldn’t be where I’m at right now if he wasn’t a [graduate assistant] at Michigan State” (per NBC Sports’ K.C. Johnson).
“I give a lot of credit to him for my success, and I think he’s going to push those guys and that team to a new level.”
