Penn State Basketball: Chambers Tabs Freeman For Assistant Role

Penn State basketball appears to have filled its assistant coaching vacancy, according to reports and confirmed by a source, former UConn director of basketball administration Kevin Freeman will join the Penn State men’s basketball staff as an assistant.

Freeman heads to Penn State to replace Dwayne Anderson, who returned to his alma mater Villanova, to take on the role as its new director of basketball operations earlier this spring.

While at UConn, Freeman held the same operations position as Anderson now does for the past seven years. In the ever changing coaching climate, Freeman had a rare stroke of luck as he was kept on UConn staff following the departure of former head coach Kevin Ollie. New UConn coach Dan Hurley confirmed the news to reporters as well.

“What an incredible ambassador he is, has been, will continue to be for UConn,” Hurley said according to the Hartford Courant. “Amazing heart, as a player and coach, in the two-plus months I’ve been with him, to see the impact he has on players and people around the university, man, what an impressive guy. Here’s a guy who deserves advancement in his career, if any one in this business does it’s him and I think he’s just going to be an amazing coach in college.”

A product of Springfield, Mass., Freeman played at UConn from 1996-2000 and started on UConn’s 1999 national championship team. 

At UConn, he coordinated the Huskies’ practice and travel schedules both at home and on the road. Additionally, Freeman served as ‘the liaison between the men’s basketball program and the university administration, as well as the campus community,’ per his university bio.

Following his collegiate career, Freeman played 11 seasons overseas. Freeman now joins Nittany Lion assistants Keith Urgo and Jim Ferry.

Penn State coach Patrick Chambers is slated to talk to reporters on Friday prior to his Coaches Vs Cancer golf event.