Loyola University Chicago basketball: first-year head coach Drew Valentine is much more than just a Cinderella Story
CHICAGO — Everyone loves a Cinderella story. Loyola University Chicago is more than familiar with being the most feel-good storyline of an incredible college basketball season. Just ask Sister Jean, she sat courtside and had the pleasure of witnessing greatness while the whole city of Chicago held their breaths, rooting for the underdogs to prevail only to see their season end, having their hearts broken, in what some would call an overachieving season. But no one knows this more than the Ramblers鈥� first-year head coach Drew Valentine.
He was hired after former head coach Porter Moser announced his departure from the school. Let’s not forget, Valentine has been with the Ramblers every step of the way. Valentine spent the past four years as an assistant coach at Loyola University, helping the team to accomplish three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships, two shocking NCAA Tournament berths and a rare National Invitation Tournament appearance.
Valentine was named the Ramblers鈥� head men鈥檚 basketball coach on April 5, making him the youngest head coach in college at just 29 years old. With him on the sideline, the Ramblers achieved the unachievable and beat the odds and hushed the doubters who proclaimed it couldn’t be done, leaving fans excited and ready for the 2021-22 college season to begin.
Unfortunately, all Cinderella 海角社区 end abruptly. That has been the case for the past few seasons. Those days are far behind him. Valentine’s story is just beginning, he is eager and ready for the challenges and possible adversities ahead of him.
Therefore, Coach Valentine is the perfect fit for this team. He is a leader and basketball genius. Valentine has the familiarity needed to hopefully push this team to the next level, with a resume that goes back to his childhood. He comes from a family of athletes and coaches. His father, Carlton Valentine, played basketball at Michigan and is the basketball head coach at J.W. Sexton High School also where he and his brother, Denzel Valentine, played in high school. His brother Denzel was AP Player of the Year at Michigan State. The Spartan was then drafted 14th overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2016. There is no shortage of pedigree and high basketball IQ throughout his family genes.
Valentine was a forward at Oakland University in Michigan, he then went full circle becoming a graduate assistant at Michigan State, learning and honing his craft under the guidance of the great Tom Izzo before he joined the coaching staff for his alma mater. Ultimately, moving up in the ranks as an assistant coach for Oakland University and then through his hard work and understanding of the game, he eventually became the assistant coach at Loyola University Chicago. He brings a new vision and mindset to these young men, not only with his character but through his passion to win both on and off the court. Coach Valentine spoke about his mindset and expectations, from both a coaching perspective and players alike after his hiring.
鈥淧eople now know the kind of [players] that we bring in,鈥� Valentine 鈥淭hat speaks to the brand that we have here, they know that we鈥檙e about doing things the right way 鈥� hard work, unselfishness, toughness, competitiveness.鈥�
His comments speak volumes, not only does he know what it takes to win at this level, but he also has learned what it feels like to lose, having been in those tough situations as an assistant and knowing what it felt like. He looks forward to getting over this team’s past tough losses reminding his player’s losses are meant for growth and should be looked at as a learning curve. The Ramblers鈥� have had to endure some harsh endings to the past two seasons and with Valentine learning from those losses and costly mistakes hoping to advance deeper in the NCAA tournament, while enhancing the culture, to develop into a more successful program. At the same time, they will be proving the doubters wrong once again. Fans love a Cinderella story, but for Loyola University Chicago that story will have to be re-written, no longer looking to be a feel-good story, but instead becoming national champions.
The Ramblers begin the season on Nov. 9 against Coppin State, it’s the first test for the new coach. Coach Valentine is ready, Sister Jean will be courtside, this time there will be no Cinderella story, yet this 2021-22 season will be the beginning of a new era, it brings a new chapter and excitement to the city of Chicago. This time there is a coach who doesn’t believe in fairy tales, only how to succeed at all levels no matter what obstacles are put in front of him. As exciting as the Ramblers have become, be prepared for the unexpected. It’s time to forget the narratives and move past a feel-good story because this team is no longer the underdog.
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