Sports Editor
PUC hired Dan Voudrie, a former Olivet Nazarene University assistant, on July 9 as men's head basketball coach.
Voudrie emerged out of a second search, with the first search earlier in the summer coming to finalists and nothing materializing. The Morton, Ill. native was appointed the position after over 120 coaches applied.
The 35-year-old, is a 14-year college basketball veteran, who will be assuming his first men's head coaching position. Voudrie will take over a program that went 6-23 last season and had Grayling Gordon resign in the spring after his lone season on the job.
"What Dan brings is a terrific personality and a very strong work ethic," PUC Athletic Director Robert Bunnell said, "I don't think anyone will outwork this guy. He brings enthusiasm and an outstanding NAIA basketball pedigree to our program."
After graduating from Bradley (Ill.) University, he went on to hold assistant men's coaching positions at Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) University and Indiana Wesleyan University.
"The position at PUC was appealing to me, first and foremost, was because of the academic reputation of the Purdue University system," said Voudrie. "The pretty close second factor was the basketball tradition that's rampant throughout the state of Indiana and in particular the Northwest Indiana region."
Following his father, Stan Voudrie, a veteran coach in Illinois, the Peregrines new coach has grown up studying and always wanting to coach basketball.
"I was a math major at Bradley, but unofficially maybe a coaching major with a math degree."
Indiana Basketball News in two separate seasons has recognized Voudrie as the top recruiter among NAIA assistants. Since being appointed the coach, Voudrie has worked with the players in small groups through the summer to improve their skills and get a chance to learn about his players.
"One of the things we've tried to do in the first six weeks on the job is to focus on building relationships with the student athletes, as well as the people across the campus community that can allow us to improve on a daily basis."
With 12-16 players trying to make their way on the roster, including three incoming freshman recruits, Voudrie will try to play a fast but efficient style of play which he will adapt after evaluating the group.
"Our focus is daily improvement," Voudrie said, "I know that right now we're not a championship level team, but our goal is if we improve every day we could possibly be by February."
"The personal has been great to work with their eagerness and willingness to work. And it's been surprisingly more talented that I had maybe perceived on paper. I'm really excited and encouraged. The ability level is higher than I thought it would be."
Voudrie emerged out of a second search, with the first search earlier in the summer coming to finalists and nothing materializing. The Morton, Ill. native was appointed the position after over 120 coaches applied.
The 35-year-old, is a 14-year college basketball veteran, who will be assuming his first men's head coaching position. Voudrie will take over a program that went 6-23 last season and had Grayling Gordon resign in the spring after his lone season on the job.
"What Dan brings is a terrific personality and a very strong work ethic," PUC Athletic Director Robert Bunnell said, "I don't think anyone will outwork this guy. He brings enthusiasm and an outstanding NAIA basketball pedigree to our program."
After graduating from Bradley (Ill.) University, he went on to hold assistant men's coaching positions at Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) University and Indiana Wesleyan University.
"The position at PUC was appealing to me, first and foremost, was because of the academic reputation of the Purdue University system," said Voudrie. "The pretty close second factor was the basketball tradition that's rampant throughout the state of Indiana and in particular the Northwest Indiana region."
Following his father, Stan Voudrie, a veteran coach in Illinois, the Peregrines new coach has grown up studying and always wanting to coach basketball.
"I was a math major at Bradley, but unofficially maybe a coaching major with a math degree."
Indiana Basketball News in two separate seasons has recognized Voudrie as the top recruiter among NAIA assistants. Since being appointed the coach, Voudrie has worked with the players in small groups through the summer to improve their skills and get a chance to learn about his players.
"One of the things we've tried to do in the first six weeks on the job is to focus on building relationships with the student athletes, as well as the people across the campus community that can allow us to improve on a daily basis."
With 12-16 players trying to make their way on the roster, including three incoming freshman recruits, Voudrie will try to play a fast but efficient style of play which he will adapt after evaluating the group.
"Our focus is daily improvement," Voudrie said, "I know that right now we're not a championship level team, but our goal is if we improve every day we could possibly be by February."
"The personal has been great to work with their eagerness and willingness to work. And it's been surprisingly more talented that I had maybe perceived on paper. I'm really excited and encouraged. The ability level is higher than I thought it would be."
Published in the PUC Chronicle on Aug. 25, 2008
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