What a whirlwind day for Loyola Chicago on Friday.
After a week of rumors surrounding Porter Moser and the Oklahoma head coach opening, the Ramblers’ coach agreed to a deal to leave Rogers Park for Norman, sources confirmed. Later, multiple sources told Off The Inbound that Loyola Chicago assistant coach Drew Valentine was in talks to replace Moser.
Saturday morning, sources said the deal was being finalized. Valentine is being promoted to replace his mentor.
Loyola Chicago assistant Drew Valentine is in talks to be promoted and take over for Porter Moser as head coach, sources tell @OffTheInbound.
— Nick Schultz (@NickSchultz_7) April 3, 2021
So who is Drew Valentine? (Besides Denzel’s brother, of course.)
A Tom Izzo and Greg Kampe Disciple
After four years as a guard at Oakland, Valentine became a graduate manager at Michigan State under Tom Izzo for two years from 2013-15. In those two years, the Spartans posted a 53-21 record and made two Sweet Sixteen appearances — including the 2015 Final Four.
Valentine was then hired at his alma mater as an assistant and spent two years on Greg Kampe’s bench from 2015-17. From there, he was hired at Loyola Chicago prior to the 2017-18 Final Four season.
Working under three great coaches — Izzo, Kampe and Moser — has helped prepare Valentine, 29, for this moment. It’s a big reason why he’s considered one of the top assistant coaches in college basketball and ends up on 30-under-30 lists.
Success at Loyola Chicago
Almost immediately after Valentine was hired at Loyola Chicago, the Ramblers turned the corner as a program. They made the Final Four in 2018, the NIT in 2019 and the Sweet Sixteen in 2021. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projected Loyola Chicago would’ve made the 2020 NIT had it not been canceled due to COVID-19.
After former assistant Bryan Mullins left Loyola Chicago in 2019, Valentine took over as the so-called “defensive coordinator,” Moser told the Chicago Tribune, meaning he was instrumental in building the Ramblers into the nation’s top defense this past season.
Valentine is also involved with recruiting, which was another question after Mullins — the Ramblers’ former recruiting coordinator — left. He’s done it all at Loyola Chicago, which is a big reason why he was the first name to come to mind when Moser took the Oklahoma job.
Why Hire Him to Replace Moser?
If you’ve followed Loyola Chicago basketball at all, you’ve heard the phrase “Created by Culture.” The program’s identity is all about the “culture.” With Moser leaving, that culture would likely change if Loyola went outside for its next coach. Promoting Valentine means many of Moser’s tactics and sayings will likely stick around — as Valentine leaves his fingerprints on the program, too.
On top of that, his background is impressive considering he’s not even 30 yet. Moser trusted him and it always seemed like Valentine would be the guy should Moser ever leave, even without the title bump to “associate head coach” like Mullins got after 2018.
Loyola Chicago could’ve easily done a nationwide search for its next coach. But it’s committed to the culture, and with a rising star like Valentine already on staff, you don’t want to risk losing him, too. it sounds like an announcement could come next week that Valentine’s taking over.
The Ramblers are in good hands.