Mike Lonergan Quotes On The University of Vermont
2/26/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 26, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Vermont named Maryland assistant Mike Lonergan as their head men's basketball coach on Saturday. Lonergan will coach with the Terrapins for the remainder of the season, and his comments regarding the new position and his experiences at the University of Maryland follow:
"I am very excited about becoming the next head coach at Vermont. Coach Williams has encouraged me to pursue this position throughout the process. I will always be grateful to him for giving me this wonderful opportunity at Maryland. I am also thankful to have his blessing to take the UVM job. I wouldn't have received this position without Coach hiring me at Maryland."
"Becoming a Division I head coach has been a lifelong dream of mine. I am sincerely grateful to Coach Gary Williams for allowing my dreams to come true - for hiring me and for helping me attain this position at the University of Vermont with his strong recommendation to the people there. His loyalty to his staff and players is unparalleled in college athletics. He has been a great boss but more importantly a great friend. I will forever remain a Maryland fan - the team I grew up rooting for - and a Gary Williams fan."
"It has been a tremendous experience working for a future Hall of Fame coach. I learned so much from Coach Williams not just in the last 11 months but during his entire 16 years at Maryland. I have watched several practices every year during his tenure here. My best friend, Jimmy Patsos, coached here for 13 years which allowed me great access to the program."
"I had great success at Catholic University, which included nine NCAA Tournaments and the 2001 national championship, by running two offenses called "Maryland" and "Terps" which I borrowed from Coach Williams. His flex offense is directly responsible for much of my success at Catholic University."
"The experiences I have had under Coach Williams this season are invaluable. I will never forget touring the Basketball Hall of Fame the night before we beat Memphis, alongside a coach that will someday be honored there. It was an incredible experience and I hope to be there the night of his induction."
"I have always admired Coach Williams as a coach but working under him this season has shown me just how great a coach he really is. He has built one of the finest basketball programs in the nation with hard work and determination. He is one of the greatest coaches in the history of college basketball and I am truly blessed to have worked for him. There are so many things I learned from Coach Williams that will help me throughout the rest of my career."
- TERPS -
