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Donnie Marsh enters his third season at UAB as associate head coach. Marsh, whose 29 years of college basketball coaching experience include stops at Florida State, Virginia Tech and head coach at Florida International, spent two seasons with Davis at Indiana, prior to joining the Blazer basketball program. Marsh plays a big role with the men's basketball program, covering everything from scheduling to helping run practice to ordering equipment. Marsh coordinates the Blazers' effort on the defensive side of the ball. Under his guidance, UAB's defense has made tremendous strides, as the Blazers ranked in the top half in the league in points allowed, field goal percentage defense and three-point field goal percentage defense. With Marsh's help, the UAB men's basketball team had one of its biggest turnarounds in school history. In his first season, UAB went 15-16. However, the Blazers improved to 23-11 in Marsh's second season, which accounted for the third-highest single-season turnaround in UAB lore. In fact, the 23 victories last season were tied for the third most in program history, while the 12 Conference USA wins ties for the most wins by a UAB team since the league's inception in 1995. Furthermore, the Blazers made it to the second round of the NIT, marking the 22nd postseason appearance in the 30-year history of the Blazer basketball program. Marsh, who is known as one of the top recruiters in the nation, made an immediate impact on the UAB basketball program during his first season in 2006-07. He was responsible for bringing several newcomers to Birmingham who helped make up the nation's ninth-ranked class in 2007, according to CollegeHoopsUpdate.com. Additionally, the 2007 class was ranked among the nation's top 25 of incoming class by almost every major recruiting service. Marsh came to UAB from Indiana where his presence was felt immediately. Prior to Marsh's arrival, Indiana ranked eighth in league play in points allowed (67.6) and fifth in field goal percentage defense (.433). Under Marsh's direction, the Hoosier defense improved considerably, rising to fifth in scoring defense (63.6) and tied for third in field goal percentage defense (.420). Marsh arrived in Bloomington after spending the previous four seasons as the head coach at Florida International. During his tenure in Miami, the Golden Panthers ranked among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in total defense and offensive rebounding. Marsh also played a key role in the development of guard Carlos Arroyo. After his stellar FIU career ended in 2001, Arroyo became the fifth Puerto Rico native in history to play in the NBA when he debuted for the Toronto Raptors. Arroyo also spent one season with the Denver Nuggets before spending each of the last four seasons with the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons, and is currently with the Orlando Magic. Arroyo also was a member of the Puerto Rico national team that particiated in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games at Athens, Greece. Prior to Florida International, Marsh served as an assistant (1997-99) and associate head coach (1999-00) at Virginia Tech. Marsh had gone to Virginia Tech after serving as an assistant coach at Florida State from 1995-97. Marsh helped the Seminoles to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament championship game before losing to Michigan. As the head coach at Trenton State (N.J.) College, now named College of New Jersey, from 1989-93, Marsh compiled a four-year record of 64-41. This was highlighted by a 22-6 record and NCAA Tournament berth in 1990. A 1979 graduate of Franklin & Marshall (Pa.) College with a bachelor's degree in history and education, Marsh earned All-American honors and helped the Diplomats to a 27-5 record and NCAA Division III Final Four. The Atlanta Hawks chose Marsh with their third round pick (52nd overall) in the 1979 NBA Draft. Marsh was selected one spot ahead of former Notre Dame center Bill Laimbeer, who was tabbed by the Detroit Pistons. After a brief professional playing stint, Marsh spent six years as associate director of admissions, assistant basketball coach and head baseball coach at Franklin & Marshall. For one year, Marsh was president of Players in Action, Inc., a firm that represents professional athletes. Marsh made his head coaching debut at Division III Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, where he compiled a 12-13 ledger in 1988-89 before moving on to the College of New Jersey. Marsh and his wife, LaRoyce, have a son, Tyler (20), who is a member of the Birmingham-Southern basketball team, and a daughter, Sydnee (16). |
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