University Park, Pa. — Patrick Chambers, who last season led Boston University to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, has been named the 12th head coach in Nittany Lion Basketball history, Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley announced today.
Chambers led the Terriers to the America East Conference Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth during the 2010-11 season and posted a 42-28 record in two years as head coach at BU. He is the only BU coach to earn 20 wins in each of his first two seasons and the fastest to earn a conference championship in program history.
A native of Newtown Square, Pa., Chambers previously played for and coached with two of the nation’s most successful college coaches. From 2004-09, he was a member of Coach Jay Wright’s staff at Villanova University, serving as associate head coach in 2008-09, helping the Wildcats earn four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and advance to the 2009 NCAA Final Four. Chambers played for Coach Herb Magee at Philadelphia University, college basketball’s all-time victories leader (922) and a 2011 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee.
"Penn State Basketball begins a new era today," Curley stated, "and Patrick Chambers ushers in that era with proven success, an appreciation of and commitment to Penn State ideals, and the energy and enthusiasm required to compete at the highest level. His outstanding record of achievement in a relatively young coaching career is a direct testament to his knowledge of the game, his passion for his players and his relentless pursuit of success. We’re confident that under Pat’s leadership, the Nittany Lion Basketball program will rise to new heights in the years ahead."
"I am truly honored and excited to be joining the Penn State family," Chambers stated. "I’m looking forward to bringing passion, energy and enthusiasm to Nittany Lion Basketball. We will play a style, and bring an attitude, that Nittany Nation can be proud of."
This past season, Boston University earned a 21-14 mark for the second straight year and fell to No. 1 seed Kansas in the Terriers’ first NCAA Tournament game since 2002. Chambers led BU to the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational in 2009-10. The Terriers won at Oregon State and beat Morehead State in the CBI, marking BU’s first post-season wins since 1959. BU also posted its first perfect home conference record since 1998.
Chambers served on the Villanova coaching staff under Jay Wright for five seasons and was instrumental in helping lead the Wildcats to a 126-45 record (.737), including the school’s single-season win record of 30-8 in 2008-09. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament all five seasons of Chambers’ tenure and posted a 56-28 (.667) record in Big East Conference games. Chambers had responsibilities in all facets of the program, including recruiting, scouting, on-court teaching and player development.
Named Villanova’s associate head coach in 2008, Chambers helped lead the Wildcats to the 2009 NCAA Final Four and saw Villanova advance to the Sweet 16 for the fourth time in five NCAA appearances during his tenure. Villanova posted an 11-5 mark in the NCAA Tournament during Chambers’ time on the Wildcat staff and won at least 22 games in each of his five seasons, including the 2009 senior class posting a school record 126 career victories.
Chambers also served as Villanova Director of Basketball Operations (2004-05) and as an assistant coach (2005-2008) under Wright, the 2009 Big East Coach of the Year. Four Villanova players Chambers worked with have played in the NBA and five other Wildcats from his tenure have played professionally overseas.
A standout guard at Episcopal Academy (Newtown Square, Pa.), Chambers graduated from Philadelphia University in 1994 with a degree in marketing and a minor in finance. He joined the NCAA Division II university’s basketball team as a walk-on in 1990 and went on to have an outstanding career, becoming the team’s starting point guard and the school record holder in assists with 709. Chambers earned first-team All-ECAC honors.
Chambers helped lead the Rams to four NCAA Division II Sweet 16 appearances and two Elite Eight appearances under Herb Magee, a member of the 2011 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame induction class.
Chambers began his coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Delaware Valley (Pa.) College in 1995-96. In 1999, he was named the top varsity assistant coach at Episcopal Academy, a position he held through 2004. High School All-Americans Wayne Ellington (North Carolina) and Gerald Henderson (Duke) were among the players he helped develop at Episcopal Academy.
Three of Chambers’ 11 siblings are Penn State graduates — brothers Chris and Joe and a sister, Megan.
Chambers and his wife, Courtney, have a daughter, Grace, and a son, Ryan.
