TOWSON, Md. - During his 13 years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level, Pat Skerry was always on the lookout for the right opportunity to become a head coach.
He found that situation last spring when Towson University was looking for a head coach.
"This situation presented a great opportunity to build something special," Coach Skerry says. "Towson University has an emerging infrastructure and there are so many things already in place. We have a great University and tremendous leadership."
After months of preparation and anticipation, Coach Skerry makes his official debut as the Tigers' coach on Friday evening at No. 13 Kansas in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. The Tigers and the Jayhawks tip off at Allen Field House at 8 p.m. EST.
The game will be broadcast back to Baltimore on WBAL-Radio (1090 AM).
Coach Skerry spent last season as a member of the coaching staff at the University of Pittsburgh where he helped Coach Jamie Dixon lead the Panthers to a 28-6 record, the Big East Conference regular season championship. Pittsburgh earned a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.
At Towson, he inherits a program that has struggled in recent years. Since there are only two letter winners returning from last year's team, Coach Skerry is virtually starting from scratch.
"This group has been very positive," says Skerry. "They believe in what we're going to do here.
"Our players need a sharper understanding of how intense they need to be," says the Tigers' new coach. "We need them to make a complete commitment to play tough and play hard all the time."
Ten players on the roster have never played in a college basketball game for the Tigers. That presents a unique opportunity for the Tigers' new coach.
"Everyone on our team is going to understand that we've got to work the right way every day," says Skerry. "That is how we are going to develop proper habits and develop a winning culture here. We set out to get better every day."
A pair of veterans, Robert Nwankwo and Erique Gumbs, form the nucleus of the team.
Nwankwo, a 6-9 forward who was named to the Colonial Athletic Association's All-Defensive team two years ago, has returned to the team after missing last season.
In the 2009-10 season, he averaged 9.9 points per game and finished third in the CAA with 8.9 rebounds per contest. The CAA leader with 83 blocked shots, he also shot .558 from the floor.
"Robert has every physical tool there is," says Skerry. "We need and expect a monster year from him. He is a hard-nosed defender who has done a lot of work in the weight room."
Coach Skerry will also be relying on Gumbs, a 6-9 sophomore forward. Gumbs appeared in 30 games and started four times. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds with a .565 field goal percentage last season.
"Erique is healthy and he is in shape," says Skerry. "We need him to be productive and he is one of our most skilled players. We need him to be tough physically and mentally. If he does that, he should have a great career."
Freshman guard Kris Walden, a product of Richmond's Henrico High School, is one of the newcomers who will make an impact this season.
A 6-1 point guard, Walden was a two-year starter at Henrico and led the Warriors to a 20-7 record as a senior. Last season, he averaged 17.4 points and 4.0 assists per game while earning All-District and All-Metro honors. He finished his career with 1,052 points, eighth on Henrico's all-time scoring list.
During the Tigers' two exhibition games, he led the team by averaging 11.5 points per game.
"Kris is a terrific worker and a good team leader," says Skerry. "He has had a good pre-season and he embodies everything you want in a student-athlete."
A native of Bay Shore, N.Y., 6-7 Marcus Damas will also contribute in the Tiger backcourt. A second team all-conference selection who played for Westchester Community College last year, Damas averaged 14.0 and 9.0 rebounds per game. Damas, who averaged 17.0 points per game as a high school senior, has three years of eligibility remaining.
"Marcus has a long reach and he has improved his skills significantly," says Coach Skerry. "We love his energy and his enthusiasm and how hard he plays. He has proven to be a good team leader and we're excited to have him on the team."
Freshman guard Deon Jones should also see playing time this season. A product of Sanford School in Delaware, he led the Warriors to back-to-back state championships. Honored as the Delaware Player of the Year in 2011, he averaged 18.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. A first team All-State selection, he connected on a game-winning three-point basket at the buzzer in a 60-58 win over Red Lion in the state championship game.
"Deon is a mature player with the ability to be a good defender," says Skerry. "He is a hard worker who we are counting on immediately."
Another freshman guard, Will Adams, is competing for playing time. A Philadelphia native, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease as a high school senior in 2009. Adams finished his career as Imhotep Charter's all-time scoring leader. As a senior, he led Imhotep to a 32-1 record and the state championship. He has been cleared to attend Towson University and play basketball.
"Will has good physical tools," says Skerry. "He is rounding back into shape and it is our hope that he will display the type of toughness and perseverance we want in our players."
Another freshman, Jervon Pressley, should play a prominent role on this year's squad. A 6-7 product of E.E. Waddell High School in Charlotte, N.C., Pressley was a four-year starter for the Raiders. As a senior, he averaged 11.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game while leading his team to 20 victories.
"Jervon is an extremely long, talented front court player," says Skerry. "He has enormous potential. He is a powerful player who is going to play a lot."
Another newcomer, Jamel Flash, is actually a red shirt freshman who sat out last season. A 6-11 forward from West Hempstead, N.Y., Flash averaged 16.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 5.0 blocked shots per game at West Hempstead High School two years ago.
"This is a big year for Jamel," admits Skerry. "He has been working hard and making strides. We need him to make an impact in the frontcourt this season."
Another redshirt freshman, 6-7 forward Alex Giergen, rounds out the roster. A native of Dusseldorf, Germany, he played at Virginia Episcopal School as a senior in high school and averaged 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
"Alex can help us by defending, rebounding and taking care of the ball," says Skerry. "We need him to be a stabilizing presence on the floor for us."
In his first season as the Tigers' coach, Skerry will lead his team against a very challenging schedule which includes games against six teams that went to the NCAA Tournament last season.
"This team will represent Towson with class and dignity and show an unparalleled work ethic both on and off the court," Skerry added. "Playing in the nation's top non-BCS conference, we will need to work hard and play with toughness, both key characteristics I have learned from all the coaches I worked with during my career."
Their non-conference schedule will prepare the Tigers for another season in the rugged Colonial Athletic Association, a league that grows in stature on an annual basis.
Last season, the CAA sent three teams to the NCAA Tournament, including Virginia Commonwealth. VCU became the second CAA team since 2006 to reach the Final Four.
"It's a privilege to coach in such a high-level conference," says Skerry. "I know it's going to be a challenge for us. The CAA has a lot of excellent programs and coaches. I am very excited about coaching in the CAA."
