Who Did DePaul Hire After All This Time?

Seriously who did DePaul just hire?

This is the big splash that we were promised a few weeks back?

After waiting for months as this coaching search has dragged on DePaul finally made their choice.

They have hired Clemson coach Oliver Purnell.

Again I will ask. Who?

Oliver has spent time at 4 schools: Radford, Old Dominion, Dayton and Clemson. He spent 3 years each at Radford and Old Dominion before spending 9 seasons at Dayton. After going 24-6 and making it to the NCAA tourney he left Dayton and headed to Clemson where he has spent the past 7 seasons.

Purnell who just signed a two year extension this past summer with the Tigers left the Clemson faithful in shock. He led them this past season to a 21-11 season that ended in a first round loss to Missouri.

Why is he leaving a team that he led to the big dance for the last 3 seasons for a team that hasn't made it since 2004?

I can understand why DePaul would hire Oliver because he has a track record for building up teams however he bolts everytime for the next big thing. He was making $1.3 million per year at Clemson and reportedly has signed a 7 year $15 million contract.

Odds on him pulling a Leitao before his contract is up?

What happened to Steve Lavin or Reggie Theus?

What about former DePaul greats like Rod Strickland or Ty Corbin?

As someone who spent some time at DePaul hopefully this move works out but hiring a journeyman coach with no Chicago ties and who seems to head for the next big pay day before finishing the job has me doubting.

Side-note wanna know really how far DePaul has fallen? While trying to put this article in the proper place on the site it asked me to pick the college basketball team....DePaul wasn't listed.

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