How did a Behrend men's basketball coach influence Justin Jennings' decision at Edinboro?
EDINBORO — Justin Jennings spoke highly of two prominent figures in his life at Edinboro University’s McComb Fieldhouse on Thursday.
Jennings, a former Penn State Behrend player and 2006 graduate, was formally introduced as the Fighting Scots' 12th men’s basketball coach in team history. The Pittsburgh native spoke before family, friends and some new colleagues after Edinboro Athletic Director Katherine Robbins introduced him.
May 30: Former Behrend player Justin Jennings hired as Edinboro men's basketball head coach
But missing from the news conference was a coach whose name Jennings mentioned multiple times during his 10-minute speech.
Dave Niland, who’s coached Behrend’s men for nearly 30 years, was a significant reason Jennings relished his time as a point guard for the Lions. Niland also flamed the Pittsburgh native’s desire to make coaching a career.
Jennings' coaching journey began as a two-year graduate assistant for Niland and his alma mater. He parlayed that into stops highlighted by the head coaching position at United States Military Academy Prep School in West Point, New York, and most recently seven seasons as an assistant to Zach Spiker at Division I Drexel University in Philadelphia.
Such jobs don’t happen, according to Jennings, without Niland’s influence on and off the basketball court.
“I got so excited when I played for Coach Niland because he was so into details,” Jennings said. “But it wasn’t until you got around other people in the (coaching) profession that you realized how special he was. He really is the best.”
“I’m so excited to be back (in Erie County) and still have him as a sounding board.”
Jennings wasn’t kidding.
Niland couldn’t attend Thursday’s announcement because of a family wedding. However, Jennings said he spoke with his mentor four times on Wednesday.
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Bonds to the ‘Boro
While Jennings had no personal ties to the Scots before now, his immediate family did.
His father, Mike Jennings, played defensive back for Edinboro’s football team in the mid-1970s.
And Justin Jennings said the bug to coach took hold when he watched his father do that with a pee-wee team.
“He took over a program that won one game over five years,” Justin Jennings said. “They only lost one game in the five years he coached them.”
Holly Jennings, Justin Jennings' wife, also graduated just up the road at General McLane High School. They met as Behrend students and have two children, daughter Avery and son Easton.
‘This is a this-year plan’
Also at McComb on Thursday were some of the players Jennings expects to inherit.
One of them is Jack Gallagher. The McDowell graduate will be a senior guard for the 2023-24 Scots.
Gallagher played for an Edinboro team that finished 7-20 over Pat Cleary’s final season as coach. The Scots went 96-144 during his 10-year tenure.
Gallagher briefly introduced himself to Jennings Thursday. He expects more face time with his new coach in the coming days and weeks.
“This is great for our program,” Gallagher said. “We haven’t had many wins since I’ve been here, so I think it was time for a change. Based on what he said here (Thursday), I’m really excited.”
Gallagher likely was glad to hear Jennings doesn’t plan to chase off any Edinboro players who are scheduled to return in favor of his recruits.
Jennings was emphatic about that during his speech.
“This isn’t a three-year plan. This isn’t a five-year plan,” Jennings said. “This is a this-year plan. It’s not going to be ‘Wait until he gets his guys here.’ You are my guys, and I’m fired up to make this experience one you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.”
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Justin Jennings hired as Edinboro University men's basketball coach
