DePaul Men’s basketball has struggled in recent years and there has not been much of an aura surrounding their program. Just last season, the Blue Demons went 3-29 including an 0-20 conference record under head coach Tony Stubblefield (3-15) and interim coach Matt Brady (0-14). This past March, former Butler and Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann was hired to lead DePaul and shake things up once again.
Holtmann brought in a staff with a wealth of knowledge which included LaVall Jordan and Bryan Mullins among others. The new coach also dove into the new landscape of NIL and recruitment and changed the whole team while bringing a revived energy to the school as a whole.
One way he is changing things up is by connecting with students which DePaulia’s Nick Palazzolo wrote about in September. Palazzolo also spoke with DePaul’s athletic director DeWayne Peevy just days before the season and announced that Coach Holtmann would be providing breakfast or lunch the day after a program win for the Blue Demons.
Coach Holtmann took to Twitter/X to confirm Palazzolo’s reporting.
Those eligible for the free meal would need to have attended the previous night’s basketball game. DePaul Blue Demon students can also receive complimentary tickets to home men’s and women’s basketball games which is even sweeter of a deal.
Breakfast and lunch is a nice gesture for the new coach to do for the students. Obviously coming off a rough year, there is no guarantee of students getting these meals often but they are off to a strong start so far.
DePaul defeated Southern Indiana on Monday, November 4 and Prairie View on Thursday, November 8. That is already two meals earned.
And DePaul’s head coach Chris Holtmann is a man of his word.
From 11:30 to 12:30 pm on Wednesday and 1 to 2 pm on Friday, Blue Demon flocked to the McGrath Phillips Arena for lunch. Student were treated to array of Jersey Mikes subs, chips, and cookies from the Blue Demons coach.
With just weeks left in the Fall Quarter and several games being played while on break, Palazzolo reports the meals will continue but through a digital format.
Two wins and two meals to start the first week of the season sure has shifted the energy at Wintrust Arena.
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