Darian Dale DeVries (born April 7, 1975) is the head men's basketball coach at West Virginia University. He was previously the head coach at Drake University from 2018 to 2024.
Early life
DeVries was born and raised in Aplington, Iowa. The oldest of five siblings, he played basketball and football at Aplington High School for three years before graduating from the merged Aplington-Parkersburg High School in 1993.[1]
DeVries became a head coach for the first time when he accepted the job at former conference rival Drake in March 2018.[3]
DeVries' helped the Bulldogs program start the season with 9–2 record, the program's best open to a season since 2007–08. The Bulldogs win over Valparaiso Feb. 16 was the team's 20th win of the season to mark the sixth 20-win season in program history. This accomplishment came after inheriting the second-fewest returning letterwinners in the nation.
Following that start, starting point guard and potential MVC Larry Bird Player of the Year candidate Nick Norton suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of the MVC season. DeVries' team proceeded to win four of its next five games to move into a tie for third place in the league standings. At the close of the 2018–19 season, he was named MVC Coach of the Year.[4]
In his next season, DeVries made history as the first coach to lead an 8-seed to a win over the 1-seed in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament ("Arch Madness"), defeating UNI 77–56.[5]
DeVries' success at Drake continued in the 2020–21 season where he took the team to a 18–0 start which included the Bulldogs' inclusion in the AP Top 25 poll. After losing two of their top players to injury, DeVries' led Drake to their first at-large NCAA Tournament bid in years, and their first NCAA tournament win in 50 years to the day with a win over former Valley foe Wichita State. DeVries was also named MVC Coach of the Year for the second time in three years. In March 2021, DeVries signed an 8-year contract extension with Drake, keeping him in Des Moines through the 2028–29 season.[6]
DeVries achieved his 100th win on November 21, 2022, at the US Virgin Islands Paradise Jam against Tarleton State.
On March 24, 2024, West Virginia hired DeVries as its next head basketball coach, replacing interim coach Josh Eilert.[7]
Personal life
DeVries is the older brother of former University of Iowa All-American and NFL defensive end Jared DeVries.[3]
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
Conference regular season champion
Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
Division regular season champion
Division regular season and conference tournament champion
Conference tournament champion
