GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Head men's basketball coach Burt Paddock would like to announce the hiring of two new assistant coaches that will join the Panthers' staff in 2010-2011. Taylor Langley and Craig Heatherly have recently accepted positions and their duties will begin immediately.
The 2010-2011 school year is less then one month away and the men's basketball team will have two new faces leading the way along with current head coach
Burt Paddock and current assistant coach
Alex Briggs. Taylor Langley and Craig Heatherly have been hired to replace former coaches Ralph Sylvester and Nick Davidson on the DU sidelines.
Coach Taylor Langley comes to Davenport from nearby Eaton Rapids High School. The last few years, Taylor has played a vital role in the development of the program at Eaton Rapids as well as Michigan State signee Alex Gauna. "In the interview process, it was clear from the start Taylor was going to be on our staff, added Paddock. He is high energy and is a basketball junkie."
The other assistant coach is Craig Heatherly who finished his education and playing career this past season at NCAA D2 UMass-Lowell. Craig, a native of South Bend, IN, was a standout HS player and continued that at Lowell where he was a member of a team that competed in the NCAA tournament in his last season. Paddock stated, "Craig was a tremendous student as well as a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. It was obvious in the interview process Craig is a great leader with very good communication skills."
Upon the arrival of two new assistants meant the departure of two great ones as well. Davidson, who had served under former DU coach Lewis Garner (3 seasons) as well as Paddock (2 seasons) was offered a position inside the athletic framework of Davenport that was too hard to pass up. According to Paddock, "Nick will still be able to work closely with the athletic teams and yet his new position will allow him to spend more time with his family."
Nick and his wife Stephanie recently had their second child (Jonathan) to join their daughter Gianna. Davidson will now work as the Assistant Director of the Student Center and will also assist in the Athletic Department's plan of marketing and community outreach.
Coach Sylvester also had other opportunities at different levels and some opportunitues outside of basketball as well.