The Ramblers' Head Coach Reflects on Transitioning to the A-10, Developing Leaders, and Navigating the Changing Landscape of College Basketball
In the latest episode of The SchuZ Show, host Zach "SchuZ" Schumaker welcomed back Loyola Chicago head coach Drew Valentine, who last appeared on the show two years ago. The past 24 months have been a whirlwind for Valentine and the Ramblers program, as they navigated the transition to the Atlantic 10 Conference.
"It's been a whirlwind, it's been crazy, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Valentine said, describing the last two years. After a successful debut season in the A-10 that saw Loyola finish atop the regular season standings, the team took a step back in Year 2 before bouncing back in a big way.
"We got our feet wet [in Year 1], kind of saw, okay, this is what we need to win. And then we went out and made it kind of like the Loyola way mixed with the A-10 way of doing things," Valentine explained. The key adjustments were doubling down on defense and implementing a more free-flowing offense that allowed his players to read and react.
Those changes paid dividends, as Loyola enjoyed the fourth-highest win percentage improvement in the country last season. Valentine credited the internal development of his returning players, as well as the infusion of talented transfers and freshmen who embraced the program's culture and identity.
"We really got back to playing our type of Loyola, you know, competitive defense. And then also offensively, I thought we did a better job of, you know, implementing a style of offense that was better when the play broke down," he said.
Adapting to the Changing Landscape of College Basketball
The rapid evolution of college basketball, from rule changes to the NIL era, has required Valentine and his staff to stay nimble. He emphasized the importance of maintaining open communication with his athletic director and administration to understand the potential impacts.
"Being in the know, being aligned with my athletic director and the rest of our administration, um, you know, when things, when they think that things are happening, our president, um, is all in on athletics and all in on our program being successful," Valentine said.
Regarding roster building, Valentine plans to continue the model that has worked well for Loyola - retaining and developing their current players while strategically adding freshmen and transfers. He believes that maintaining that continuity and culture is crucial for sustained success.
"The model that we've had with retaining our, you know, current guys that we have and then blending in freshmen and transfers is something that we're going to always do here," he said.
Embracing the Family Culture at Loyola
One of the hallmarks of Valentine's program has been the strong family culture, which he credits to the influence of his predecessor, Porter Moser. Valentine has followed Moser's example in prioritizing relationships, both within the team and with his own family.
"I really respected that about coach Moser was, um, how much of a family guy he was, how much he had good relationships with his kids, how much they loved him, how much he knew about their lives, how much he was invested," Valentine said.
That family-first mentality has been a driving force for Valentine, who has been intentional about modeling that behavior for his players and staff. He understands the importance of work-life balance and ensuring that his players feel valued, loved, and supported in their pursuit of their dreams.
Looking Ahead to the 2023-24 Season
With the departure of several key contributors from last year's team, Valentine is excited about the potential of this year's Ramblers squad. He emphasized the importance of the team's "race to maturity," as they look to quickly develop chemistry and cohesion.
"We've got a really talented group that's deep and um, you know, we're on this, you know, we've talked about it this summer. Our theme for the summer is this concept of race to maturity. How quick can we start coming together as a group? How quick can we mature as a group?" Valentine said.
The coach is particularly excited about the team's defensive potential, with the length and athleticism to potentially be one of the best defensive units in Loyola history. As the Ramblers look to build on their recent success and contend for championships, Valentine's ability to adapt and develop his players will be crucial.
Watch the full Drew Valentine interview here
Comments