DePaul University hired nationally recognized Parker Executive Search on March 17 to conduct a national search for a new men’s basketball coach and the process led the Blue Demons back to the man who coached at the Chicago school from 2002-05.
Former UConn assistant coach Dave Leitao, who was an assistant at Tulsa this season, will be introduced as DePaul’s 14th coach at a press conference Monday afternoon, the school announced Sunday. An introduction isn’t really necessary. It wasn’t that long ago that Leitao led the Blue Demons to a 58-34 record over three seasons.
Now he is back, as DePaul once again tries to become a contender in the Big East Conference. The Blue Demons were 12-20 last season and 6-12 in the Big East. They lost their last eight games in their fifth season under coach Oliver Purnell.
Leitao left DePaul in 2005 after being offered the head coaching job at Virginia.
“This is a special day for my family and me,” Leitao said Sunday in a press release from DePaul. “I underestimated what a special place DePaul University and the city of Chicago are when I left here in 2005. The dedication and support here to the growth of student success is second to none, not only for a basketball program but also for the entire student body. I’m proud and our team will be proud to represent this great institution in one of the world’s great cities. We will exude the work ethic that drives Chicago and the region every day and look forward to everyone joining us next season.”
In his first stint at DePaul, Leitao led the Blue Demons to the NIT twice and they advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament. That’s the last time DePaul has appeared in the NCAA tourney.
“His success here speaks for itself with three postseason appearances in three years with teams that energized our alumni and fans with their competitiveness and work ethic, said athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto. “When he left in 2005, we recognized that it is the nature of our business that dynamic coaches get recruited away. Now we are pleased to welcome Dave, his wife Joyce and their family back to Lincoln Park with great enthusiasm for his leadership and the future development of our men’s basketball program.”
Leitao was associate head coach at Connecticut for six seasons and helped the Huskies win the 1999 NCAA xhampionship. He was also head coach at Northeastern from 1994-96.
Following the 2004-05 season at DePaul, Leitao accepted the head coach position at Virginia and led the Cavaliers for four seasons. After a NIT appearance in his first season, Virginia shared the ACC title with North Carolina and Leitao was named ACC Coach of the Year and the NABC District 5 Coach of the Year.
Leitao was an assistant coach at Missouri and Tulsa under Frank Haith. Missouri posted back-to-back 20-win seasons in his time in Columbia that included one NCAA and one NIT appearance. Last season at Tulsa, Leitao helped the Golden Hurricane to 23 wins and a NIT berth.
ESPN reported that Leitao’s new deal is for five seasons.
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