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Pat Chambers Introduced As New Penn State Coach

By FTG1855
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The Pat Chambers era of Penn State basketball officially got underway this afternoon in State College when the new coach was introduced to the media at the Bryce Jordan Center. There wasn't a whole lot of suspense in hearing his words as he's been talking a lot with the media since the hiring. Nevertheless, seeing him with some familiar Penn State faces certainly lends to the excitement a new hiring brings. Here are some highlights from the presser.

  • University president Graham Spanier: "He will have the unconditional support of this administration, university administration and athletic administration and I think a lot of support from all around the Penn State community"
  • Athletic director Tim Curley: "He is a superior recruiter, with key contacts and relationships in all the major areas where Penn State needs to find the great basketball players. Coach Chambers has recruited All-Americans and current NBA players as well as found sleepers who he has developed into great players. He has NCAA Tournament experience and has helped guide teams who have reached the Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet 16 and has a full appreciation of what it takes to compete at the highest level."
  • Chambers on style: "We're going to play up-tempo, we're going to push the ball. We want to get layups, if we don't get layups we're going to shoot threes."
  • Recruiting will be the coach's number one priority and he'll also try to change the culture at Penn State.
  • He plans to sell the program and connect with students by turning out in the dining commons and even by doing "dorm storms."
  • Talked about recruiting Philadelphia, a place Penn State has traditionally struggled, by pointing to the area prospects he drew to Boston, saying if he can draw them there, he can draw them to Penn State.
  • Chambers said he will be trying to get out and meet with players and commitments ahead of their return for the summer session in a couple of weeks. 
  • On renewing the hardwood version of the Pitt rivalry: "I consider Jamie Dixon a friend and he runs an incredible program. I would definitely say that's something we'd look into to get a little rivalry going."
  • Believes Spanier and Curley are committed to a winning program.

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