Donyell Marshall Named Central Connecticut Men's Basketball Head Coach
Marshall becomes the 10th head coach in the program's history.
Central Connecticut State University Director of Athletics Paul Schlickmann announced that Donyell Marshall has been named the 10th head coach of the CCSU men's basketball program. Marshall signed a five-year agreement to lead the Blue Devils.
DONYELL MARSHALL PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTOS (Steve McLaughlin Photography)
"I am pleased to welcome Donyell Marshall as our new head men's basketball coach at Central Connecticut State University," said university president, Dr. Jack Miller. "Donyell's resume is extensive and he has been highly successful at all levels, first as a player and now as a coach. Most importantly, he is a person of integrity who will build promising young players into men which is exactly what it will take to replace a person with the commitment and honesty of Coach Dickenman. Coach Marshall's genuinely positive attitude, basketball experience and work ethic make him the right person for the job, and I know he can't wait to begin. With the patience of our fans and supporters he will achieve great success. This is a great day and it makes me proud to be a Blue Devil."
"We are extremely excited to introduce Donyell Marshall as our men's basketball coach and welcome him to our Blue Devil family," Schlickmann said. "Donyell immediately impressed me during the interview process as a genuine man with a passionate intent to develop young men into leaders and to give back to the game that has given him so much. His personality is engaging, his positive energy contagious and his humility disarming. His basketball resume and acumen are exceptional and speak for themselves. I believe he has the requisite experience and ability to guide our program to a level commensurate with our high expectations within the Northeast Conference and beyond."
Following a successful 15-year playing career in the NBA, Marshall has been an assistant coach at both the NCAA Division I and professional levels. Marshall most recently helped the University at Buffalo advance to the NCAA tournament for a second straight year in 2015-16.
"I am extremely grateful to join Central Connecticut State University as the men's basketball coach," Marshall said. "I would like to thank President Jack Miller, Dr. Richard Bachoo, Paul Schlickmann and the members of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Blue Devils. It is exciting to come back to Connecticut – a place I consider my second home.
It's a great honor to coach a program that has been built by such coaching greats as Bill Detrick and Howie Dickenman and I look forward to adding to the successful legacy of CCSU basketball. I am excited to get to work with our student-athletes and anxious to begin the work necessary to get the program back to where it needs to be."
Marshall and the Bulls reached the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16 after becoming the first team in 14 years to repeat as Mid-American Conference champions. Marshall handled duties as the recruiting coordinator and player development in helping Buffalo post a 20-15 overall record this past season. His work with the squad resulted in four student-athletes earning postseason All-MAC, All-Freshman and All-Defensive Team recognition.
Prior to joining the staff at Buffalo, Marshall spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Rider University. In 2014-15 he helped the Broncs tie the program record with 21 wins and post its best MAAC record at 15-5. The squad earned a postseason invitation to the College Basketball Invitational that season.
Before entering coaching, Marshall enjoyed a 15-year playing career in the NBA. He was the No. 4 overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 1994 NBA Draft and was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team pick. He averaged 11.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game during his career and tied the single-game record for three-pointers with 12 against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 13, 2005.
He is one of just six players in NBA history to have 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 750 blocks and 750 three-pointers in a career. He played with eight NBA franchises during his career and appeared in the 2007 NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers. During his career, Marshall played alongside players such as, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
Marshall began his coaching career at George Washington University in 2010-11 where he was involved in all coaching aspects, including recruiting, opponent scouting and player development. He helped the Colonials to a 17-14 record overall and a 10-6 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
He also spent a season as an assistant coach in the professional ranks with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League.
Marshall enjoyed a highly-decorated collegiate playing career at the University of Connecticut, where he was named to the school's All-Century Team after finishing with 1,648 points in three seasons. As the program's first consensus All-America First Team honoree and a BIG EAST Conference Player of the Year in 1993-94, he averaged 25.1 points per game and helped the Huskies win 29 games. He set single-season school records for points (855), field goals made (307) and free throws made (200) that year which stood until broken by Kemba Walker in 2010-11.
Marshall is married to Leea and has two daughters, Taylor (26) and Devynn (14) and four sons, Terrance (24), Marquis (22), Paryss (19) and Donyell, Jr. (18).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT DONYELL MARSHALL
JIM CALHOUN (Hall of Fame Coach, University of Connecticut)
"Donyell was our first All-American at Connecticut and went on to a great career in the NBA. He will always be one of the program's greatest players and more importantly one of the program's greatest people. I know of his dedication to college athletics and he has turned himself into a terrific coach. This is a great move for Central and a great move for Donyell. He loves the game and loves the kids and he will do a tremendous job."
PETE CARRIL (Hall of Fame Coach, Princeton University/Sacramento Kings)
"Donyell has been very well coached in high school, at UConn and in the NBA and it's hard to believe he won't use some of the same teachings to be successful as the head coach at Central Connecticut. He is a hard worker who will no doubt get the players at Central Connecticut to play hard and to play well."
NATE OATES (Head Coach, University at Buffalo)
"Donyell was great with our guys this season, he has a really sharp basketball mind. With everything that he brought to the table as far as a coach is concerned he was a key piece in our team being able to make the NCAA Tournament this year. I'm really happy for Donyell being named the head coach at Central Connecticut. I think he will do an outstanding job and he will bring a winning attitude to the program."
JERRY SLOAN (Hall of Fame NBA Coach)
"Donyell was always a very smart player who was a great teammate and an excellent leader. He's been around some tremendous basketball knowledge in his career and I'm sure he has learned from every coach along the way. I believe he will be successful and I know he will surround himself with a great staff and some hard workers. I'm happy for him that he is getting this opportunity."
ERIC SNOW (Former NBA Player/Teammate)
"Donyell was a great player, a great man and a great friend and someone who I was always able to talk with about anything. He is a great guy to have in the locker room and he was always about putting the team first. He works hard and was great at helping teach younger guys on the team and those are qualities that will translate well as he has a chance to be a head coach."
DONYELL MARSHALL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Coaching:
University at Buffalo (2015-16)
Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator
• NCAA Tournament, MAAC Championship, 20-15 record
Rider University (2013-15)
Assistant Coach
• 2014-15 squad tied Rider record for wins (21-10)
• Set program-record with 15-5 conference mark in 2014-15
Maine Red Claws (2011-12)
Assistant Coach
George Washington University (2010-11)
Assistant Coach
Playing:
• NBA Single-Game Record 12 Three-Pointers
• 4th Player Selected in the 1994 NBA Draft
• First Team All-BIG EAST (1992-93, 1993-94)
• BIG EAST Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year
• Member of University of Connecticut's "All-Century Team"
• University of Connecticut's First Consensus First Team All-American
• National Player of the Year (Finalist)
• Eastern College Athletic Conference Player of the Year
• New England Player of the Year
• Team USA (Summer 1993)
• McDonald's All-American
• Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year
• USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year
• Mid-Atlantic States Player of the Year
NBA Playing Experience:
• Philadelphia 76ers (2008-09)
• Seattle SuperSonics (2008)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-08)
- 2007 NBA Finals appearance
• Toronto Raptors (2003-05)
• Chicago Bulls (2002-03)
• Utah Jazz (2000-02)
• Golden State Warriors (1995-2000)
• Minnesota Timberwolves (1994-95)
