Get to Know the Rambler’s Coaching Staff

We are one week away from officially joining the A10 Conference and with recruiting in will swing especially with the most recent commitments, I want to give some insight to the staff behind this hard work.

This Loyola Rambler staff is a great group of dedicated individuals that our leader Drew Valentine put together last year just as he was given the title of head coach. After one year together I want to give quick points about the leaders from the coaching ranks.

Of course we are going to start off with our amazing sneakerhead leader Drew Valentine. Valentine for those if you don’t know by now was hired after the 2020-2021 season when former head coach Porter Moser left for Oklahoma. Drew the youngest head coach in Division 1, a stat every broadcast didn’t want you to forget. Coach Valentine has exactly what Loyola wanted, young, experienced and from within the Loyola coaching ranks. Drew does have a resume prior to Loyola that many will hear over the A10 broadcast and that is he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for Tom Izzo at Michigan State. There he developed a relationship with Coach Izzo that is still a big impact to Coach Valentine today. As well his brother, NBA star Denzel Valentine was playing for the Spartans at the time. Then Drew would coaching at Oakland University, and then finding his way to Chicago for Porter Moser. Over the years at Loyola Drew identified himself as the defensive lead on the staff. This experience and knowledge is want gave Drew the control over the Rambler basketball team and I have been very excited watching his dedication to the team and school.

Next I have to talk about head coach Drew Valentine’s right hand man, London Dokubo. London I feel at this point bleeds maroon and gold. London joined the Loyola basketball community in 2011 when he stepped on the court as a key walk-on for the Ramblers. After 2015 four years of Rambler basketball, London decided to join the staff first as a volunteer assistant. Then over the years London has held graduate assistant and currently director of men’s basketball operations.  I feel London staying on the staff is the glue that held the transition together and impacts the program in more ways then we as fans may see. London has the highest commitment to Loyola and to its players both current and future, having him on the staff is a true gem.

Another familiar face to the program is Patrick Wallace, current assistant coach for the Ramblers….