“Not only do I think, you know, you’re capable of being, successful at this level, but I don’t need you to be anything other than yourself in that process,” said Bob McKillop, coach of the Davidson Wildcats, while recruiting Stephen Curry. At the time, Davidson hadn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 1969. But McKillop’s words were enough to convince Curry, then an all-state, all-conference player, to join the Wildcats. Curry remains the only player to have his jersey retired by the school and is now set to help them again, just as he did 17 years ago when he led them to an unlikely Elite Eight.
It has now been revealed that the Golden State Warrior has taken on a role with his alma mater as an assistant general manager for the basketball programs, making him the first active player in U.S. major professional sports to accept an administrative position with an NCAA team.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, in his new role, Curry, who played three seasons at Davidson from 2006 to 2009, will provide guidance and advice to both male and female athletes through his experiences in college and professionally. But why did he take up this role? On3 Sports now has the answer to this question.
According to On3 Sports, Stephen Curry will help fund over $10 million to support Davidson College’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. Along with his wife, Ayesha Curry, and longtime Davidson supporters Don, Matt, and Erica Berman, he will establish an eight-figure fund for both programs. Matt Berman, a former Davidson soccer player from the class of 2005, will also join as an assistant GM.
Davidson College will always be synonymous with Steph Curry, and his impact on the mid-major program will likely never be matched. For those who may not know the full extent of what he accomplished at Davidson, this is for you!
Stephen Curry- Davidson’s greatest ever!
In his three seasons at Davidson, Curry became the men’s basketball program’s all-time leading scorer. He was also a two-time All-American, two-time SoCon Player of the Year, three-time First-Team All-SoCon selection, and the 2009 NCAA scoring champion. This cant possibly be replicated by anyone in Davidson.
March 21, 2008 – Davidson s Jason Richards (2), Stephen Curry 30), Thomas Sander (15), and William Archambault (22) celebrate on the court with teammates and cheerleaders after defeating Gonzaga, 82-76, in their first-round NCAA College League USA game at RBC Center, Friday, March 21, 2008, in Raleigh, North Carolina. (David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/MCT) News Archive – March 21, 2008 – ZUMAm67_
Charlotte’s favorite son averaged 28.6 points, 5.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game in the 2009 season, but he isn’t remembered for his stattlines that year. He is remembered for his phenomenal performances during Davidson’s unforgettable run to the Elite Eight in his sophomore year.
Taking down a powerhouse like Gonzaga while dropping 40 points and shooting 8-10 from three is undoubtedly one of the most iconic performances in March Madness history. Not to mention, during Davidson’s four-game NCAA Tournament run, the greatest shooter of all time averaged an incredible 32 points per game.
But now, he’ll be in a different role and will have his work cut out for him! Davidson wrapped up the regular season with a 16-15 record and a 6-12 mark in conference play. Head coach Matt McKillop is in his third season at the helm and has yet to finish a season with a winning record. But Curry’s role is clear. “The goal for this is to invest in the next student athlete that’s coming into Davidson today.” Fans will be hoping to see the next Steph Curry emerge from Davidson’s ranks–and who better to help shape the program’s future than the legend himself?
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