by JP Pelzman
Duane Woodward liked what he saw of the Seton Hall program even before he was contacted to interview for an opening on the staff in the spring.
The former Boston College standout, who played 13 years of professional ball in Europe, spent the past four seasons as an assistant under head coach King Rice at Monmouth. Not only that, he also is close with former Seton Hall assistant Shaheen Holloway, now the head coach of Saint Peter’s.
“I feel like I’ve been a part of the program,” Woodward told Piratecrew.com in a recent interview, “because Shaheen Holloway is one of my really good friends. I’ve always supported him. I was at a lot of the games. I came to practices."
“I felt like I knew the Seton Hall program a little bit,” Woodward added. “I enjoyed watching Coach (Kevin) Willard. He’s a really good coach, knows his Xs and Os, loves the kids and is an overall good guy, so I couldn’t have been happier” to get the job.
Woodward, who coached the New York Panthers AAU team for five years, believes he is a good fit for The Hall because “I’m a New York City guy. I’ve always been involved with the New York City high school and AAU scenes. I always kept up relationships, even when I played in Europe, every summer I came home and was involved.”
And because he played overseas for so long, he can relate to collegiate players who are aspiring to have similar career arcs. And most importantly, “I love being in the gym. I love teaching, I love making guys better. I’ve always been a fan of Seton Hall, been a fan of Coach Willard and what he’s accomplished.”
Because of all that, he feels it is an exciting time to be recruiting for Seton Hall because there is so much interest in the program, not only he says, in New Jersey, “but in New York City and the whole tri-state area.”
Even though there are many different schools in the Big East than when he played for Boston College (currently of the ACC) in 1994-98, Woodward said he has been impressed by “how gritty, how tough of a league it is. It was like that when I played. Seton Hall was one of our rivals so I can relate in terms of that.”
Woodward and fellow first-year Hall assistant Tony Skinn replaced Fred Hill and Holloway respectively, and Woodward said he is “beyond ecstatic” that Holloway has become a head coach.
“He’s somebody I’ve always leaned on in this business,” Woodward said of Holloway, “because he’s been in it longer than me. He was due for this head coaching opportunity and I think he’ll do very good things.”
Holloway’s Peacocks are 1-2 after a loss to Bryant on Wednesday night.
Woodward said that lead assistant Grant Billmeier has been “extremely helpful” in Woodward’s transition to a new school. “He bleeds Seton Hall Blue. I always try to pick his brain on whatever it may be. He’s always there, he’s always open to giving me ideas.”
As for the Pirates, Woodward admitted, “It’s an inexperienced team, especially in the backcourt.”
He stressed patience with both freshman point guard Anthony Nelson and Sacred Heart transfer Quincy McKnight, who sat out last season and started at point guard in the loss to Nebraska on Wednesday night.
Before the season opener, Woodward said that Nelson “has a lot of talent but going into the Big East, it’s not easy” and that for the talented McKnight, “stepping up a couple of levels, it’s not going to be easy for him either.”
Like most people in the basketball community, Woodward likes what he has seen from lead guard Myles Powell, who will have the burden of being the Pirates’ go-to guy after the departure of four seniors.
“From outside of the program,” Woodward said, “I knew he was a big-time player but seeing him every day and the way he works and all the little things he does, he’s very impressive.”
As for his own philosophy, the assistant coach said, “You’ve got to keep trying to get better every single day. I’m only four months in (at Seton Hall), but I’m trying to get better in everything I do and help (the program) as much as possible.”
COMMENTS
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
Duane Woodward liked what he saw of the Seton Hall program even before he was contacted to interview for an opening on the staff in the spring.
The former Boston College standout, who played 13 years of professional ball in Europe, spent the past four seasons as an assistant under head coach King Rice at Monmouth. Not only that, he also is close with former Seton Hall assistant Shaheen Holloway, now the head coach of Saint Peter’s.
“I feel like I’ve been a part of the program,” Woodward told Piratecrew.com in a recent interview, “because Shaheen Holloway is one of my really good friends. I’ve always supported him. I was at a lot of the games. I came to practices."
“I felt like I knew the Seton Hall program a little bit,” Woodward added. “I enjoyed watching Coach (Kevin) Willard. He’s a really good coach, knows his Xs and Os, loves the kids and is an overall good guy, so I couldn’t have been happier” to get the job.
Woodward, who coached the New York Panthers AAU team for five years, believes he is a good fit for The Hall because “I’m a New York City guy. I’ve always been involved with the New York City high school and AAU scenes. I always kept up relationships, even when I played in Europe, every summer I came home and was involved.”
And because he played overseas for so long, he can relate to collegiate players who are aspiring to have similar career arcs. And most importantly, “I love being in the gym. I love teaching, I love making guys better. I’ve always been a fan of Seton Hall, been a fan of Coach Willard and what he’s accomplished.”
Because of all that, he feels it is an exciting time to be recruiting for Seton Hall because there is so much interest in the program, not only he says, in New Jersey, “but in New York City and the whole tri-state area.”
Even though there are many different schools in the Big East than when he played for Boston College (currently of the ACC) in 1994-98, Woodward said he has been impressed by “how gritty, how tough of a league it is. It was like that when I played. Seton Hall was one of our rivals so I can relate in terms of that.”
Woodward and fellow first-year Hall assistant Tony Skinn replaced Fred Hill and Holloway respectively, and Woodward said he is “beyond ecstatic” that Holloway has become a head coach.
“He’s somebody I’ve always leaned on in this business,” Woodward said of Holloway, “because he’s been in it longer than me. He was due for this head coaching opportunity and I think he’ll do very good things.”
Holloway’s Peacocks are 1-2 after a loss to Bryant on Wednesday night.
Woodward said that lead assistant Grant Billmeier has been “extremely helpful” in Woodward’s transition to a new school. “He bleeds Seton Hall Blue. I always try to pick his brain on whatever it may be. He’s always there, he’s always open to giving me ideas.”
As for the Pirates, Woodward admitted, “It’s an inexperienced team, especially in the backcourt.”
He stressed patience with both freshman point guard Anthony Nelson and Sacred Heart transfer Quincy McKnight, who sat out last season and started at point guard in the loss to Nebraska on Wednesday night.
Before the season opener, Woodward said that Nelson “has a lot of talent but going into the Big East, it’s not easy” and that for the talented McKnight, “stepping up a couple of levels, it’s not going to be easy for him either.”
Like most people in the basketball community, Woodward likes what he has seen from lead guard Myles Powell, who will have the burden of being the Pirates’ go-to guy after the departure of four seniors.
“From outside of the program,” Woodward said, “I knew he was a big-time player but seeing him every day and the way he works and all the little things he does, he’s very impressive.”
As for his own philosophy, the assistant coach said, “You’ve got to keep trying to get better every single day. I’m only four months in (at Seton Hall), but I’m trying to get better in everything I do and help (the program) as much as possible.”
COMMENTS
https://setonhall.rivals.com/
