Democrat File Photo SUNY Sullivan head basketball coach Kevin DeVantier, a 1998 graduate of Roscoe CS, has taken an assistant coach-ing position with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.

Norfolk State hires DeVantier as assistant

Story by Ken Cohen
NORFOLK, VA — June 14, 2013 — SUNY Sullivan head basketball coach Kevin DeVantier, a 1998 graduate of Roscoe CS, has taken an assistant coaching position with Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia.
DeVantier’s roots in Sullivan County athletics run deep, and the standout athlete’s achievements at Roscoe Central School include being named the Western Sullivan League (WSL) Basketball MVP during his senior year.
Norfolk State, a Division 1 school, which just two years ago, shocked No. 2 seed Missouri in the NCAA tournament, recently hired former SUNY New Paltz assistant Rob Jones to replace Anthony Evans as head coach. Evans, the former SUNY New Paltz head coach, moved on to Florida International.
DeVantier worked with Jones as an assitant at New Paltz and the two have stayed in touch since. Jones told DeVantier if ever got the job at Norfolk, he would want him to join his staff.
“And he followed through,” said an elated DeVantier. “Rob got the job on a Tuesday morning and offered me the job by Tuesday evening.
“Obviously, I’m excited about this opportunity. It’s something I’ve been going after since I started coaching 10 years ago. It’s a tremendous jump up for me.”
DeVantier compiled a 121-15 record in his four years at SUNY Sullivan and coached two players now competing at the Division 1 level in Cleanthony Early (Wichita State) and Marvin Jean (Utah State). He’s very quick to give these players the credit for his success.
“I had great players who believed in what we did,” said DeVantier. “They made it easy to coach.”
DeVantier, 33, will be heavily involved in recruiting for Norfolk, which has been using its New Paltz connections to tap into the New York City pipeline.
“I will be traveling a lot recruiting players on a national level,” said DeVantier, who acknowl- edged that part of the draw for Norfolk in hiring him was his familiarity with New York City players.
DeVantier is joining a Norfolk team that returns four starters and seven seniors from a team that went undefeated in league play last season.
“The expectations are extremely high here and I’m very excited,” said DeVantier, whose parents, Mr. & Mrs. Peter DeVantier own Roscoe Lumber.