August 13, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rider Basketball Hires Dupree

New Assistant Coach

            LAWRENCEVILLE-- Rider University has hired Fred Dupree as an assistant men's basketball coach, Rider head coach Don Harnum announced. Dupree replaces Tony Newsom, who resigned to take a similar position at the College of Holy Cross .

            Dupree is a 1998 graduate of Canisius College , and has coached at the University at Albany and University at Stonybrook.

            "We are very excited to add Fred to our coaching staff," said Harnum, who led the Broncs to a fourth place regular season finish in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference last year. "Being from New York City and having played in the MAAC, he is very well aware of what it takes to win in this league."

            At Canisius, Dupree was a member of the Golden Griffins 1995 squad that reached the finals of the National Invitation Tournament and the 1996 team that played Utah in the NCAA tournament. Dupree served as team captain as a senior.

            "This is a great opportunity for me to return to the MAAC as a coach," said Dupree. "Having been a player in this league gives me an idea of what it takes to compete and win on this level."

            Dupree coached two years at St. Thomas More Prep in Connecticut , before serving as an administrative assistant at Stony Brook. "Fred will be an asset to Rider on the court and on the recruiting trails," Harnum said.

Rider finished the 2000-2001 season 16-12 overall, including 10-2 in Alumni Gymnasium, and 11-7 in the MAAC. This season the Broncs feature non-conference games with Seton Hall, Princeton , Towson , Northeastern, Delaware , Drexel, Monmouth, Lafayette and Bucknell. Rider returns three starters, including senior forward Mario Porter, a MAAC Player of the Year candidate.

-RU-