Chase Harler Talks Relationship Between Darian DeVries and WVU Alumni

Originally posted on WV Sports Now | By Ethan Bock | Last updated Jul 23, 2024 10:05 AM ET

Chase Harler, Best Virginia’s general manager and head coach this summer, talked about the relationship between WVU HC Darian DeVries and the basketball alumni. Harler’s team finished TBT play on Monday night, falling to Zoo Crew, Pitt’s alumni team, in the round of 32.

“The new coach has been great. We’ve practiced in the facility the whole time. He was very receptive to our alumni, watched some practices and talked to the guys,” Harler said. “I think the program is in great hands.”

West Virginia’s basketball program has prided itself on having a family-like culture. WVU has kept the door open for the former players who want to return, and now with the DeVries era, it seems like that will continue.

Just a couple weeks in, former WVU forward John Flowers went through the effort of welcoming and endorsing DeVries with many other alumni signing a message. DeVries has let the TBT team practice in the gym facility, as Harler mentioned, and made the trip up to Pittsburgh to watch the tournament game on Monday with a few assistants.

DeVries also mentioned on Jon Rothstein’s podcast that he’s welcoming all alumni with open arms as he hopes to make them proud of what the former Mountaineers have built in the past.

“We’ve had a lot of really good basketball players that have played here and are still around the program. We certainly welcome them every day with open arms [because] this is their home and they’re the ones that built this place.”

DeVries, who comes over to WVU after six seasons at Drake, is entering year one as he looks to turn the program around.

This article first appeared on WV Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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