University Park, Pa. — New Penn State Basketball coach Patrick Chambers was introduced to a large and enthusiastic crowd Monday (June 6) in the Bryce Jordan Center.
Named the 12th head coach in the 115 years of Nittany Lion Basketball on June 3, Chambers was introduced to Nittany Nation live on the Big Ten Network and www.BTN.com. A crowd of approximately 200 was in attendance in the Bryce Jordan Center. Read a transcript of the press conference here.
Penn State President Graham Spanier and Director of Athletics Tim Curley also participated in the press conference as the Penn State and State College communities welcomed Coach Chambers and his immediate and extended family in attendance, many of whom live in metropolitan Philadelphia.
Chambers comes to Penn State after leading Boston University to the America East Conference Championship and its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002 this past season. He posted a 42-28 record in two years as head coach at BU, 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.
"I want to thank President Spanier and Tim Curley for this incredible, incredible dream come true," said Chambers. "I want to thank the entire Penn State family. It just feels like home, it just feels right. I feel like I have come home, we’re going to anchor in and hopefully we’re going to be here a really long time. We’re going to play up-tempo, we’re going to push the ball. Finally, I would ask all of you to get this Bryce Jordan Center rocking. We need support; these kids need support. They put so much time and effort into school, into weightlifting and into basketball."
"Patrick Chambers emerged early on as someone we should give very serious consideration to," Spanier said. "I had the opportunity of spending three hours with him in Boston last Thursday. There was no doubt in my mind at the end of that discussion that he was person at the right time and place for this job. He will have unconditional support of this administration, University administration and athletic administration."
"This is a very exciting day for Penn State Basketball," Curley stated. "We’re beginning a new chapter that I believe will be defined by Pat’s passion, attitude, energy, confidence, a lot of fun and most importantly, Succes With Honor. Coach Chambers has the "It" factor. He is a superior recruiter, with key contacts and relationships in all the major areas where Penn State needs to find great basketball players."
What They are Saying about Penn State Basketball Coach Patrick Chambers
"Penn State and Pat Chambers are a perfect match – class, pride and integrity. Pat is a talented coach and an outstanding recruiter. I know how fired up he is about Penn State and I know Penn Staters will love him."
– Jay Wright, Villanova Head Basketball Coach
"It was clear right away he had a little something extra you don’t find in a lot of guys. He wasn’t a scoring threat at all. But, I had scorers. But, his ability to lead and defend and do all the things on and off the court that coaches need made me fall in love with the kid. Once he got the job, he never relinquished it."
– Herb Magee, Philadelphia University Basketball Coach, NCAA All-time Victories Leader and 2011 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee in Harrisburg Patriot-News
"He was selling for the family business and doing well. But, I just had that feeling he would make a great coach. He was one of those people who love the game so much and know the game so well. He had that Philly ability to recognize situations and know what people should be doing and know what to do with the ball and that intense desire to win. I loved the way he interacted with the players. He’s quick to jump on them if they’re not doing everything exactly the right way. There’s no short-cuts with him."
– Dan Dougherty, Former Episcopal Academy Head Basketball Coach in Harrisburg Patriot-News
"Pat Chambers has been fortunate enough to play for and work for some of the most successful coaches in the Philadelphia area – long-time coach Dan Dougherty at celebrated Episcopal Academy, Naismith Hall of Fame coach Herb Magee from Philadelphia University and 2008 NABC National Coach of the Year Jay Wright from Villanova. Hopefully, in addition to leading Boston University to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his second year as a head college coach, these experiences will provide a toolbook and a resource for him to build a program that will be competitive in the Big Ten on a regular basis and make Penn State fans proud."
– Dick "Hoops" Weiss, New York Daily News
"It’s hard to imagine Penn State finding a more promising coach and better fit than Patrick Chambers. It certainly helps that he worked for one of the best, classiest coaches in Jay Wright, but Patrick showed in his two years at BU that he could stand on his own as a coach. Penn State has every reason to be thrilled about its basketball future."
– Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News/BTN’s Big Ten Basketball & Beyond
"Before I joined ESPN.com, I worked in Philadelphia and watched Chambers tutor alongside Villanova coach Jay Wright. His passion for basketball and his eagerness was so overwhelming that more than one person asked, Is this guy for real?’ The implication being that Chambers’ personality might be somewhat disingenuous. It is not. It is who he is.
"At Boston University, he coached hard and recruited well, the two biggest tools in a head coach’s tool belt. But he also recognized that involving the fans and inspiring the campus was key. That’s what Penn State needs. In Chambers, that’s what it has: an architect."
– Dana O’Neil, ESPN.com
"I like the Chambers hire – young, energetic, from good stock."
– Doug Gottlieb, ESPN
"He can get it done. He’s a bulldog. He can sell you anything…He was in the business world before he was at Villanova. He’s a very good communicator. We had top recruiting classes before I was at Villanova, and he was pretty much part of most of those. So, he’s a very, very good recruiter."
– Doug West, former Villanova Assistant coach, NBA and Villanova standout player in Altoona Mirror
"Pat Chambers brings enthusiasm, energy and integrity to Penn State. His student-athletes will benefit greatly from his teaching, coaching and leadership."
– Patrick Nero, Commissioner; America East Conference, 2005-11