Duquesne selects Dambrot to reinvigorate MBB program

Akron coach Keith Dambrot yells instructions to players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball championship game against Kent State in the Mid-American Conference tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

By Andrew Holman | Sports Editor

The Duquesne Dukes men’s basketball program found its coach as athletics director Dave Harper named Keith Dambrot the 17th coach in program history.

Dambrot comes to the Bluff after spending 13 seasons at the University of Akron. In his time running the show for the Zips, Dambrot compiled a 305-139 (68.7 win percentage) record. During his 13 years in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), Dambrot led the Zips to three NCAA tournaments, five National Invitational Tournaments (NIT) and one appearance in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI).

He also helped Akron dominate the MAC as his teams reached at least the semifinals of the MAC tournament for 12-straight seasons. Akron recorded at least 20 wins in each of those 12 seasons as well.

Dambrot signed a 7-year contract with Duquesne, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.

Prior to his time at Akron, Dambrot was the head coach at Tiffin University (1984-86), Ashland University (1989-91) and Central Michigan University (1991-93).

He famously was a high school coach of LeBron James for two years at Saint Vincent-Saint Mary High School in Akron, Ohio where he led the Fighting Irish to a pair of state championships.