Donald Eugene DeVoe (born December 31, 1941) is an American former college basketball coach and former player. DeVoe played college basketball for Ohio State University, and later served as the head coach for Virginia Tech, the University of Wyoming, the University of Tennessee, the University of Florida and the United States Naval Academy.

Early life and playing career

Born in Sabina, Ohio, DeVoe grew up in the small town of Port William, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, where he played for coach Fred Taylor's Ohio State Buckeyes from 1962 to 1964. He was a member of the 1962 Buckeyes team that lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats in the final game of the NCAA Tournament, as well as the Buckeyes' Big Ten Conference champion teams of 1963 and 1964.

Coaching career

DeVoe's Buckeyes teammates included Bob Knight, under whom he served as an assistant coach, from 1965 to 1970, while Knight led the Army Black Knights men's basketball team. At that time, DeVoe served as a graduate assistant at Ohio State University for the 1970–71 season. After a season with Ohio State, DeVoe became the head coach for Virginia Tech.

While coaching the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team, DeVoe led the Hokies to a National Invitational Tournament (NIT) title in 1973, as well as an NCAA tournament appearance in 1976. Playing an independent schedule, DeVoe's Hokies compiled an 88–45 record in five seasons from 1971 to 1976. From 1976 to 1978, DeVoe led the Wyoming Cowboys basketball program.

From 1978 to 1989, DeVoe was the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers men's basketball team. In eleven seasons in Knoxville, he compiled a 204–137 record. DeVoe's Volunteers teams emphasized hustle, team play and man-to-man defense. He led the Volunteers to their first ever NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1981, where they lost to top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers. In his final season at Tennessee in 1988–89, he led the Vols to a 19–11 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

In the aftermath of NCAA infractions that led the University of Florida to demand head coach Norm Sloan's resignation before the start of the 1989–90 season, DeVoe became the interim head coach of the Florida Gators men's basketball team shortly after retiring as head coach of Tennessee. The Gators were a talented team beset by personality problems, and DeVoe later described his acceptance of the job on an interim basis as a "mistake" that left him without authority to fix the program's more serious issues. He publicly clashed with the Gators' temperamental star center Dwayne Schintzius when DeVoe attempted to impose a new conditioning program and a measure of team discipline. Schintzius quit mid-season, ostensibly over DeVoe's demand that he get a haircut, and the Gators finished 7–21 overall and 3–15 in the SEC. After he was let go by Florida, he was succeeded by Lon Kruger.

DeVoe served as the head coach of the Navy Midshipmen men's basketball team from 1992 to 2004. He led the Midshipmen to a 182–155 record, a 26–3 record against arch-rival Army, five Patriot League regular season titles, three Patriot League tournament titles, and three NCAA Tournament appearances in twelve seasons. DeVoe was named Patriot League Coach of the Year three times.

In his thirty-one season career as a college basketball head coach, DeVoe led three different teams to the NCAA tournament, and posted an overall win–loss record of 512–389 (.568).

Personal

DeVoe and his wife Ana have three children: Donna Lee, Elliott and AnaLise. He is currently a member of the NIT selection committee.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Virginia Tech Gobblers (NCAA University Division / Division I independent) (1971–1976)
1971–72Virginia Tech16–10
1972–73Virginia Tech22–5NIT champion
1973–74Virginia Tech13–13
1974–75Virginia Tech16–10
1975–76Virginia Tech21–7NCAA Division I First Round
Virginia Tech:88–45
Wyoming Cowboys (Western Athletic Conference) (1976–1978)
1976–77Wyoming17–108–6T–3rd
1977–78Wyoming12–153–117th
Wyoming:29–2511–17
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (1978–1989)
1978–79Tennessee21–1212–62ndNCAA Division I Second Round
1979–80Tennessee18–1112–6T–3rdNCAA Division I Second Round
1980–81Tennessee21–812–63rdNCAA Division I Sweet 16
1981–82Tennessee20–1013–5T–1stNCAA Division I Second Round
1982–83Tennessee20–129–9T–4thNCAA Division I Second Round
1983–84Tennessee21–149–96thNIT Quarterfinal
1984–85Tennessee22–158–10T–8thNIT Third Place
1985–86Tennessee12–165–138th
1986–87Tennessee14–157–11T–9th
1987–88Tennessee16–139–96thNIT First Round
1988–89Tennessee19–1111–7T–4thNCAA Division I First Round
Tennessee:204–137107–91
Florida Gators (Southeastern Conference) (1989–1990)
1989–90Florida7–213–1510th
Florida:7–213–15
Navy Midshipmen (Patriot League) (1992–2004)
1992–93Navy8–195–95th
1993–94Navy17–139–5T–1stNCAA Division I First Round
1994–95Navy20–910–43rd
1995–96Navy15–129–3T–1st
1996–97Navy20–910–21stNCAA Division I First Round
1997–98Navy19–1110–2T–1stNCAA Division I First Round
1998–99Navy20–79–32nd
1999–00Navy23–611–1T–1st
2000–01Navy19–129–32nd
2001–02Navy10–205–97th
2002–03Navy8–204–107th
2003–04Navy5–232–128th
Navy:184–16193–63
Total:512–389
National champion Postseason invitational champion Conference regular season champion Conference regular season and conference tournament champion Division regular season champion Division regular season and conference tournament champion Conference tournament champion

Bibliography

  • Dortch, Chris, , Brassey's, Inc., Dulles, Virginia (2002). ISBN 1-57488-439-5.
  • Koss, Bill, Pond Birds: Gator Basketball, The Whole Story From The Inside, Fast Break Press, Gainesville, Florida (1996). ISBN 978-0-8130-1523-1.