June 30, 2006

Contact: Brian McCann

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Larry DeSimpelare, a 17-year college coaching veteran who has worked the last 11 seasons with Viking head coach Gary Waters, has been named assistant men's basketball coach at Cleveland State. Waters made the announcement on Friday (June 30).

DeSimpelare joins associate head coach Jayson Gee and assistant coach Jermaine Kimbrough on the Viking coaching staff.

"Larry is a welcome addition to the our coaching staff," Waters said. "There is a reason why he and I have coached together for the last 11 years. We have the same goals in mind for this program and he will only enhance what we are trying to accomplish. He'll help us take this program to the next level."

Nobody knows the Gary Waters system better DeSimpelare, who comes to Cleveland State after spending the last five seasons at Rutgers (2001-06), helping the Scarlet Knights to a 79-75 record and three NIT appearances, including a second place finish in 2004.

DeSimpelare, 38, first worked with Waters in 1995-96 as an administrative assistant at Eastern Michigan. His only season in Ypsilanti was a memorable one as the Eagles went 25-6, won the MAC regular season and tournament titles and knocked off Duke in the first round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to Connecticut in the second round.

Kent State beckoned for both Waters and DeSimpelare the following season, starting a five-year odyssey that turned the Golden Flash into one of the top mid-major programs in the nation. KSU went 92-60, including three straight 20-win seasons and two NCAA and one NIT bid.

A native of Unionville, Mich., DeSimpelare lettered three times in basketball at Spring Arbor College, earning academic all-district honors and serving as team captain as a senior in 1989-90.

After serving as an assistant coach at Spring Arbor in 1990-91 while he finished his degree, DeSimpelare became the youngest head coach of a four-year school in 1991 when he took over at Concordia (MI) College, a position he held for four seasons.

DeSimpelare's appointment is effective immediately.