Mark Aguirre returns to DePaul as a special assistant to athletic director DeWayne Peevy
DePaul is bringing back one of its all-time greats, announcing Wednesday that former basketball star Mark Aguirre will be a special assistant to athletic director DeWayne Peevy.
Aguirre, 63, will focus on community outreach and donor engagement in his new role while providing strategic counsel to Peevy, according to a university news release that said the College Basketball Hall of Famer and three-time NBA All-Star’s appointment is effective immediately.
“It’s such an honor to partner and work alongside such a distinguished alumnus as Mark,” Peevy said in a statement. “As we have gotten to know each other over the past few years, it’s been apparent we are aligned in our vision for DePaul University, and specifically the athletics department.”
After starring at Westinghouse, where he led the Warriors to the Public League championship as a senior, Aguirre had a spectacular career for the Blue Demons, who went 79-10 during his three seasons.
As a freshman, Aguirre helped DePaul reach the 1979 Final Four. He was the 1980 national player of the year and a two-time consensus All-American, and he averaged 24.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for his career.
The Dallas Mavericks drafted Aguirre with the No. 1 pick in the 1981 NBA draft, and he won two NBA titles with the Detroit Pistons and averaged 20 points over a 13-year career.
DePaul retired his No. 24 jersey, joining George Mikan’s No. 99 as the only retired numbers in program history.
In 2010 Aguirre expressed interest in DePaul’s head coaching vacancy, but his lack of a college degree disqualified him from consideration. In 2014 he told the Tribune he was on track to complete his bachelor’s in sports management later that year.
