“I want to thank Dave Harper, Coach Dambrot and his staff for welcoming my family and me to Duquesne University,” said Joyce III. He will really give our program a shot in the arm, not only as another former professional player on our staff, but also as someone who has been part of our family for nearly 25 years.” He’s a hard worker who has always been an overachiever and a winner. Coaching and leadership are a natural for him. Although he is relatively new to the coaching profession in years, he’s pretty much been a coach since he was 14 years old. He carried that throughout his high school, college and professional career. As a freshman in high school, he was 5-foot-2 and 92 pounds and made seven 3’s in a state championship game, which tells you about his competitive nature. “Dru is a hard-nosed, chip-on-his-shoulder competitor,” said Dambrot. ![]() I'm forever grateful to Coach Dru.Duquesne basketball on Pittsburgh Sports Now is sponsored by The Summit Academy: setting young men on the path to a better future. I thought he was only doing things to me. "When I was player, I never thought he was doing anything for me. "I went from getting yelled at to yelling at players," Travis said. STVM assistant coach Romeo Travis called the day "surreal," as he reflected on coming full circle from player to coach with Joyce. "It's about being able to witness greatness. "It's not about being able to live up to a legacy for me," he added. It's something that a lot of people like that helps them. "At the age of 5, I could see him working with kids. "One thing I've always understood about is that he is a leader, helping turn boys into men," Joyce III said. That son is Dru Joyce III, another Fab Five member who is an assistant coach under Dambrot at Duquesne University. "There's no greater gift that we can give than what you have done for all these young men."Īs he accepted the honor, Joyce quoted Hall of Fame coach John Wooden.ĭru Joyce II, left, is hugged by son Dru Joyce III after the dedication ceremony Sunday for Coach Dru Joyce Court at The LeBron James Arena at St. 'The X's and O's will take care of themselves as long as you take care of the people,'" Whitney said. ![]() He also was assistant coach under Keith Dambrot during STVM's 20 state title wins.Īs the STVM's girls basketball coach, Whitney said she's been striving to match Joyce's excellence, an him a great resource for his program. Those titles include Division II championships from 20. While praising Joyce's qualities off the court, Whitney said his on-court exploits were unparalleled.ĭuring his 21 years as STVM head coach, Joyce has won seven state titles, 13 regional titles and 19 district titles, and compiled a career record of 441-119. Tributes rolled in for Joyce's work from many of his former players and coaches, all of whom echoed that he was as a good person as he was a basketball coach. On Sunday, with James in attendance, Joyce was honored as STVM named its court "Coach Dru Joyce Court at The LeBron James Arena." Perhaps it's fitting the two men's names are now linked at STVM. The other turned the Irish into arguably Ohio's best high school boys basketball program. One became perhaps the best basketball player of all time and an Akron community leader. Mary in 1999.Īs STVM assistant athletic director Carley Whitney said, since then, the two have "put St. Mary High School, and his wife, Carolyn - surrounded by his former players, Sian Cotton, left, his son Cameron Joyce, Athletic Director Willie McGee, his son Dru Joyce III, Corey Jones, Brandon Weems and LeBron James - unveil the new Coach Dru Joyce Court during a dedication ceremony Sunday at the school's LeBron James Arena in Akron.ĪKRON - Dru Joyce II and LeBron James arrived together at St. ![]() Dru Joyce II, center, boys basketball coach at St.
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