Oliver Purnell Out at DePaul, School to Run National Search | Zagsblog
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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Tuesday / November 5.
  • Oliver Purnell Out at DePaul, School to Run National Search

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    5831024DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto announced today that Oliver Purnell has resigned as head coach and finished his DePaul coaching career after five seasons in Lincoln Park.

    DePaul went 12-20 this season, 6-12 in the Big East and lost to Creighton in the first round of the Big East Tournament this week.

    Purnell went 54-105 in five seasons as head coach at DePaul. In 27 years as a college head coach, he holds a record of 448-384.

    “It is my best interest and my family’s best interest to resign as head coach of the DePaul basketball program,” said Purnell. “We made progress here and improved with the talent and character of our student-athletes. DePaul provided complete support and is fully committed to its basketball program with its budget, the on-campus facilities and in the future with the new events center. I would like to personally thank the University community, fans and student body for their support and thank the student-athletes for their efforts over the last five years.”

    “We would like to thank Oliver for his time at DePaul,” said Ponsetto. “He moved the program forward with the building of the roster and we wish him and his family well in the future. We are grateful to Coach Purnell for turning a corner in DePaul recruiting. We are clearly a stronger program because of his leadership. As we now turn to a search for a new coach, we do so gratefully for what he contributed these past five years.”

    DePaul has started its national search for the 14th head coach in program history.

    St. Benedict’s Prep guard Eli Cain had just committed to DePaul this past week, and his status remains uncertain for the moment. Cain had previously decommitted from Delaware because of coaching uncertainty at that school.

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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