5 Questions with Coach Dwayne Killings

UAlbany Men's Basketball Head Coach Dwayne Killings

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 18, 2021) — Leadership and mentorship are just two of the qualities new UAlbany Men’s Basketball Head Coach Dwayne Killings has focused on during his nearly 20-year career in intercollegiate and professional athletics.

An Amherst, Mass., native and a 2003 graduate of Hampton University in Virginia, Killings spent the past three seasons as associate head coach for men’s basketball at Marquette University in Wisconsin. Before that, Killings spent time in a variety of roles for Temple University, UConn, Boston University and the NBA.

At each stop, Killings has worked to engage athletes and coaches to promote ethical conduct and education, with the goal of preparing the next generation of basketball leaders. The results? Since he started coaching, Killings’ teams have appeared in NCAA tournaments seven times, winning three conference tournament titles and two regular season titles.

Read more about Coach Killings on the Athletics site.

Can you describe your coaching style and what you hope to teach student athletes?

I hope to teach our young men how to be great leaders. I truly believe that if we can grow them as men then they will become better basketball players. Our athletes represent so much for their families, their communities, our community and for all those that came before them. They need to value that and carry that with them every time they have an opportunity to compete but also when they have a chance to represent themselves in the classroom or the community.

I am a coach that believes that if I can build and maintain trust through authentic relationships I have a chance to unlock each player true potential. My staff and I are committed to communicating, inspiring and lead our young men to chase their highest dreams. Every day we will try to build elite habits because repetition leads to habits, habits leads to reflex.

Can you tell us more about Coaches for Action?

Coaches For Action was the brain child of Kimani Young (UConn), Kyle Neptune (formerly Villanova and now head coach at Fordham), Ivan Thomas (Providence) and myself. We all felt as if we had an obligation to do more as we watched the events that happened in our society last summer. We huddled up together and tried to figure out how we could not only impact our programs, but give ourselves and our players a platform to represent themselves properly. We quickly created something that took notice around the sports world because of the power of the Big East brand but also because we were operating in the shadows of John Thompson, and the legacy and impact that he had not only in basketball but in society as a whole.

We aimed to use our stance in the Big East to ensure those within our community were prepared to vote, raise funds for a scholarship to one of the 11 Big East institutions and finally wear a Black Lives Matter patch on uniforms. We did these things because in our hearts we felt they were right, but also we wanted to be sure that the conversations of last summer were being sustained. At CFA we hope that the same energy that was put into changing communities and listening more is continued for days, months and years to come. At the end of the day we all just want to improve our corners of the world.

You have also spent your career working with organizations such as TopConnect, which helps to develop the next generation of basketball leaders. Why has this been an important issue for you?

I have loved each professional development opportunity I have been given in my career, because it has prepared me to live the dream that I am living right now at UAlbany. As an assistant coach you don’t get a lot of time to develop yourself, so I am forever grateful for TopConnect and other sources like the NCAA’s Champions Forum to prepare me to maximize my leadership potential.

As I step into my leadership role here in the Capital Region, I pull from my time learning from the likes of Fran Dunphy, Bruiser Flint, Dawn Staley, Karl Hicks, Frank Ross, J.B. Bickerstaff and so many more. I pay attention to how these great leaders inspire and hold the next generation accountable but I also pay great attention to their character and how they impact their communities. To create a championship experience here at UAlbany we have to make people care, by caring for people. My staff and I are so thrilled to be welcomed with open arms but to also give back the energy we receive tenfold.

Who are the basketball coaches, past or present, that make up your personal Mount Rushmore?

My personal Mount Rushmore! Wow, that is a great question.

Bernie Bickerstaff, because he was first class in everything he did. That matters, the attention to detail that he possessed was second to none.
Fran Dunphy, because he cared about people, he cared about the places he worked. He was so thoughtful in each decision that he made because he was aware of the impact it had. But he was also one of the most competitive human beings I have ever been around.
Jay Wright. I never worked for him, but I have always respected how he built his culture and how it was always perceived that he had total buy in from the top down. It is something that I try to study all the time.
John Chaney. I got to benefit from his legacy during my time at Temple. As I got to know him he had an amazing ability to inspire people to think different. He understood that he represented something bigger than the game of basketball but when he Coached he made people cheer for him because he fought for so much. Without his work I wouldn’t be here today.
Brad Stevens. I have always marveled has his Coaching ability. He has such an even keeled demeanor but is always prepared, always adapting. Those are such important skills as a Coach.
Pat Riley. I always loved the energy he carried, he had such a unique leadership style and an amazing presence. I will never dress as good as him but I will try. But he was a guy that demanded so much of his players, but they had a grit about them at every place he Coached at. He was and always will be the “Culture King.” He always set and maintained such high standards, and his teams won because of it.

What are you most excited for as you settle in to the Capital Region and make Albany your home?

I am so excited to get settled. I have spent the past seven weeks without my family but I know they are going to love it here. We are excited to not only join the Capital Region, but we are even more excited to give back. I said this at my press conference but my wife, Ana, and I mean it we hope to make the community feel smaller with our efforts to connect.

My daughter Alecia and son Tristan will be filled with energy as they hit the summer camps, and we get settled into our home. But once summer turns to fall and fall turns to winter I can’t wait to have a packed SEFCU Arena welcome our team onto the floor. I get goosebumps thinking about it. My staff and I have worked hard to put together a team that represents us all the right way. My family and I can’t wait for you to help our vision become reality! GO DANES!