Dwayne Killings

Head Coach Dwayne Killings and the Great Danes men's basketball team are still getting to know one another. The media guide clearly states that 16 of the 22 players, coaches and staff are new to the program. More often than not, the cohesion that enables them to win college basketball games takes time for the players and the coaches to develop. Monday night in Chestnut Hill in Boston, the UAlbany Great Danes took a huge step in that process.

Monday night the UAlbany Great Danes continue their lesson plan under Coach Killings. Their non-conference schedule is a bear. Killings is aware but sees the benefits. "Monday presents a tremendous opportunity to compete against an ACC opponent on the road. As we continue our journey through this season, I am excited to see the growth of our program and players against a tough and versatile Boston College team" said Killings.

Nobody told Dwayne Killings that it would be easy taking over a Division I basketball program. Add in 9 new student-athletes to the program and an entirely new coaching staff, and the equation appears tougher in front of the rookie head coach. That's the way that the 40 year old head coach appears to like it.

Tuesday night, a new era of UAlbany men's basketball began. Dwayne Killings was named the Great Danes head coach in March. He was replacing 20 year head coach in Will Brown, who posted a 315-295 career record for the Danes with 5 trips to the NCAA tournament. When the university decided they wanted a fresh face at the helm of their men's basketball program, Athletic Director selected Killings, who was the associate head coach at Marquette University. The 40 year old from Amherst, Massachusetts packed up his family and headed to Western Ave. and the SEFCU Arena.

One coach will take the sidelines for the very first time in the lead chair. The other looks to secure an allusive MAAC Championship that has been snagged from his team's grips the past two seasons. Fans will eagerly return to their seats that have collected dust since March of 2020. Tuesday night, empty basketball venues will be a thing of the past for the Capital Region's two Division I basketball programs.

Ok, maybe I don't like polls very much, especially when they are mid-major Division I polls. There are always so many variables. First, they are done by coaches, who are not always the most objective folks when it comes to other programs or coaches. Now throw in the new "Pandemic" rosters, featuring 6th year grad students and the "wild west" in recruiting created by the NCAA transfer portal, well, fans could be in for some of the best basketball we have seen in these conferences, maybe ever.

As college basketball teams begin to take to the hardwood with the hopes of a complete and close to normal season, the University at Albany men's basketball team is getting use to their new coach, Dwayne Killings. Saturday, I got to spend some time at the Great Danes practice.

The Dwayne Killings' era of UALBANY basketball is under way. Coach Killings has finalized his coaching staff and is working on his roster. DK took some time to introduce us to his new staff and let us know why he chose them to help lead the Great Danes. If we end up being as fired up about this staff as coach Killings is, it's going to be a great time at the SEFCU Arena.

The University of Albany Great Danes men's basketball team introduced the program's 4th ever Division I head coach Dwayne Killings earlier today. As if holding a press conference in front of the media of the Capital Region wasn't enough the guy hops in a car and came to Ravenswood Pub in Clifton Park to join Levack and Charlie and introduce himself to the 104-5 The Team ESPN Radio listeners.

Earlier this week our own Rodger Wyland reported that Marquette assistant basketball coach Dwayne Killings would be the new head coach for the University of Albany men's basketball team. Today UAlbany confirmed that report in an official press release from the school.