Owl Alum Ferry Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at Duquesne University

PITTSBURGH, Pa. 4/11/12 - Jim Ferry, who led LIU Brooklyn to its second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance this March, has been named men's basketball coach at Duquesne University, Director of Athletics Greg Amodio announced today.

Ferry, 44, reached an agreement with Duquesne on Tuesday afternoon.

A 1990 graduate of Keene State College Ferry, played three seasons for the Owls (1987-90), then a Division II member of the New England Collegiate Conference.  One of the teams’ top three-point shooters, he averaged in double-figures during a career that was twice shortened by knee injuries. Ferry still holds the Owls record for free throw attempts in a single game, with 19 against Springfield College on November 26th, 1989.

Ferry also started his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater in 1990-91.

The 16th head coach in the 95-year history of Duquesne basketball, Ferry will be formally introduced at a media conference on Thursday afternoon.

"Jim Ferry has been a winner at every level," said Amodio. "Through a combination of hard work, strong character and outstanding leadership he experienced unprecedented success at LIU. I look forward to him using those same qualities to make his mark on the Duquesne basketball program. He is an aggressive recruiter whose teams are known for tough, physical play. Jim is the right fit for Duquesne right now."

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at Duquesne University," said Ferry. "I look forward to the challenge of taking this program to the next level.

"I was very impressed by the commitment shown by president [Dr. Charles] Dougherty and Greg Amodio during the interview process. They have a clear vision of where they'd like this program to be. I look forward to making that vision a reality."

Ferry, who grew up in Elmont, N.Y., has won 254 games in 14 years as a head coach at the Division I, Division II and Division III levels.

He took over a 5-22 LIU team in 2002-03 and guided it to 52 wins, a 34-2 record in Northeast Conference play and back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2011 and 2012.

In 2011, the Blackbirds were the fourth-highest scoring team in the nation in finishing 27-6. The 27 wins were the most by an LIU team since 1937.

LIU ranked second nationally in scoring at 81.4 points per game in posting a 25-9 record this past season. It was the first time since 1941 & 1942 - then under legendary head coach Clair Bee - that LIU won 25 or more games in back-to-back seasons.

Ferry left the Brooklyn campus with a 27-game home win streak - second only to national champion Kentucky's 52 consecutive home victories. The Blackbirds will return four starters in 2012-13 including 2011-12 NEC Player of the Year Julian Bond.

Ferry, who was named NEC Coach of the Year twice (2005 and 2011), coached one Player of the Year, two NEC Rookies of the Year, 11 all-conference honorees and eight all-rookie selections in 10 seasons at LIU.

Ferry went 82-11 in three seasons at Division II Adelphi College from 1999 through 2002. He led the Garden City, N.Y. school to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2000 and NCAA Elite 8 appearances in 2001 and 2002. He was named NIT/Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Division II Coach of the Year all three seasons.

Ferry's Adelphi teams went 62-4 in winning three-straight New York Collegiate Athletic Conference championships. His 2001 Panthers won 31 consecutive games in posting a school record 31 wins (31-1).

Ferry got his head coaching start at Division III Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire where he led the Panthers to a 22-8 record and an appearance in the New England Tournament finals in 1998-99.

He was named New Hampshire Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year following the season.

Ferry reached the 100-win plateau (104-19) in his first four seasons as a head coach.

He served as an assistant coach at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass. for seven seasons prior to taking the head coaching position at Plymouth State. As an assistant, he helped the Falcons to a 1992-93 Northeast 10 regular season championship and trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Ferry the son of a New York City transit police officer, played one year at New York Tech before transferring to Keene State, where he posted a double-digit scoring average for his career. Ferry led the Owls in scoring as a junior and was team captain as a senior. He earned his undergraduate degree in public safety science.

Ferry and his wife, Kelly, are the parents four children: Victoria, twins Hannah and James, and Leo.

(Information obtained from Duquesne sports information)