LYCOMING MEN’S BASKETBALL HIRES NEW ASSISTANT COACH

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Don Friday, head coach of the Lycoming College men’s basketball program, has announced the hiring of Isaac Willis as an assistant coach for the 2004-2005 season.

Willis is a 1991 graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College where he was a four-year member of the basketball team. Willis served as captain of the team his senior season and led the squad to the regular season title in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. His class was the third winningest in the history of men’s basketball at West Virginia Wesleyan and is credited with reviving the program. His career was highlighted by upsetting the number-two team in the NAIA, ending Waynesburg College’s 91-game home winning streak, and losing just four home games in four years.

Following his undergraduate studies, Willis pursued a career in medicine by attending California College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco, California. He graduated in 2000 with a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree. In 2003, Willis completed a three-year residency at New York College of Podiatric Medicine in New York City, where he provided medical relief at “Ground Zero” in Manhatten immediately following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

Within the past year, Willis decided to pursue his true passion of teaching the game of basketball. During the summer he worked at basketball camps across the country for some of college basketball’s elite coaches, including Paul Hewitt at Georgia Tech University, Jim Larranaga at George Mason University, and Jeff Capel at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“I’m confident that Isaac’s energy and passion will help our student-athletes accomplish their goals of both academic and athletic success,” said Head Coach Don Friday. “He has taken a unique path to pursue his dream – leaving his career as a medical doctor to become a collegiate basketball coach. He understands the commitment and rewards that are associated with that dream.

“Coach Willis’ on-floor duties will include player development, coaching our front-line players, and overseeing our team defense. In addition, he will coordinate our recruiting and scouting efforts, and our strength and conditioning program.”