Duquesne names associate head coach Dru Joyce III as its next men's basketball coach

In keeping with Keith Dambrot’s wishes — and his strong suggestion — Dru Joyce III was named Duquesne’s next men’s basketball coach Thursday.

He replaces Dambrot, who is retiring after seven seasons at Duquesne and 26 as a collegiate head coach.

Joyce, 39, has been Dambrot’s associate head coach since May 2022.

“I’m very pleased to have Dru as our next head men’s basketball coach at Duquesne University,” athletic director Dave Harper said in a release. “Knowing of coach Dambrot’s potential retirement, a full vetting and search process was launched. Dru exhibited a clear vision for our program going forward and understands the challenge of keeping our recent success a possibility in the years ahead.

“It’s now imperative that we support him, his staff and the program with all that is needed to continue to be successful.”

Dambrot made his feelings clear March 18 when he announced his plans to retire.

“We’ve been kind of grooming coach Dru to take over for me. Hopefully, he gets the job, but obviously I’m biased. The program wouldn’t miss a beat if he gets the job. There would be very little (player) turnover. We’ve got some good young kids in that room. With the way things are now, if coach Dru didn’t get the job, that (transfer) portal becomes a problem.

“Dave’s the boss,” Dambrot said of Harper. “He’s the boss, but I’m strong-willed.”

Joyce and LeBron James played for Dambrot at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. Joyce also played for Dambrot at Akron. He will be the third Dambrot assistant to ascend to a Division I head coaching job, joining Marquette’s Shaka Smart and South Carolina’s Lamont Paris.

James confirmed the new position and congratulated Joyce via the X social platform Thursday.

I’m proud to announce! As the unquestioned source I am confirming that Dru Joyce is the new HC at Duquesne University and is meeting with the team right now! So damn happy and proud of you my brother!!! @DruOnDemand@DuqMBB ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? #GoDukes❤️????????

— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 28, 2024

“He’s going to hold guys accountable, be super detailed and fiery of course because he wants to win — that’s what it’s all about,” James told TribLive through a publicist when Joyce joined Duquesne’s staff in 2022. “But he’s always going to be compassionate and someone you can always talk to and relate to.”

Duquesne president Ken Gormley also welcomed the Dukes’ new head coach through a release.

“Dru Joyce III has proven his abundant talent as a coach,” Gormley said. “He’s been a key figure in the recent success of the Duquesne men’s basketball program, alongside Keith Dambrot, that culminated this year in the exciting Atlantic 10 Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, re-energizing men’s basketball at Duquesne and in Pittsburgh.

“Dru is already a respected, valued and admired member of the Duquesne family. For that reason, this was an easy decision. Dru will carry forward the great work of coach Dambrot and continue to usher in an exciting new era of Duquesne basketball that will allow our impressive team of student-athletes to shine on a national stage.”

Before joining Dambrot’s staff two years ago, Joyce spent three seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cleveland State. He was part of a staff that took a 10-21 team to a 19-8 record and NCAA Tournament appearance in two seasons. Overall, Cleveland State was 31-10 in Horizon League games in Joyce’s last two seasons, including 16-4 in 2021 and 15-6 in 2022.

Joyce was Dambrot’s point guard at St. Vincent-St. Mary for two seasons before Dambrot left in 2001 to take an assistant job at Akron. Joyce was named all-state while helping SVSM win three state championships with a 103-5 record. He followed Dambrot to Akron, where he set the school career assist record and earned All-Mid-American Conference honors twice.

While Joyce played at Akron, the Zips won 81 games, including tying the then-school record with 26 victories in 2006-07.

Joyce played professionally in Europe for 12 seasons in Germany, Poland, Russia and France. He ended his pro career as the all-time leader in assists in the Basketball Bundesliga in Germany.

He was inducted to the Akron Varsity “A” Hall of Fame in 2019, in the same class as Dambrot.

Joyce and his wife, Lanae, have three children, Alivia, Kanin and Averie.

“I’ve wanted to be an NCAA Division I head coach since I was 14 years old, so I’m overwhelmed with joy to be named the next head coach at Duquesne University,” Joyce III said in a release. “I’d like to thank Duquesne University President Ken Gormley, Director of Athletics Dave Harper and the Board of Trustees for this unbelievable opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to expanding on the legacy that Keith Dambrot has built the past seven years, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to continue to make an impact with the student-athletes, coaches and staff to make our program one that Duquesne and the surrounding region can be proud of.”