STANDISH, Maine – Saint Joseph's College has announced that starting in 2020 the court in the Harold Alfond Center will be officially named as "Mike McDevitt Court" in honor of the Monks' longtime women's basketball coach and men's basketball alum.
The celebratory court naming coincides with the announcement of a new fundraising campaign for facility enhancements for the Monks' men's and women's basketball programs.
The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.5 million over three years to dedicate the court and construct new men's and women's basketball team rooms along with a lobby suite. Those interested in supporting the campaign are encouraged to visit the McDevitt Court Campaign page.
Now in his 28th season on the basketball sideline, McDevitt - a native of Ellsworth, Maine - has amassed a 558-197 (.739) career record while winning 12 conference championships and leading his program to 12 national tournament appearances. Currently, he ranks 13th in victories and 18th in winning percentage among active NCAA DIII women's basketball coaches.
McDevitt is the winningest and most successful basketball coach (men's or women's) in the history of SJC athletics with 534 victories and a .740 winning percentage across 26 seasons at Saint Joseph's. McDevitt also served as the head coach at Southern Maine for one season, leading the Huskies to a 22-7record, a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009.
McDevitt, also a standout men's basketball player at Saint Joseph's, scored 1,381 points with 674 rebounds as a four-year starter for the Monks and was inducted into the SJC Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
In an athletics playing and coaching career that spans 45 years – four as a men's basketball player, three as a men's assistant, 27 as the Monks' head coach, five as the SJC volleyball coach, five as an assistant at USM, and one as the Huskies' skipper – McDevitt has played a role in 1,269 contests with an incredible 940-329 (.741) record with 22 conference championships.
"We've had some tremendous talent here in the women's basketball program," adds Coach McDevitt. "Pretty much to a player every individual has sacrificed for the team, so it wouldn't be fair for me to think that this is my honor alone, this is for the alums that are in the room, the former players, current players, coaches, administration and staff, and the Sisters of Mercy. I certainly hope that when I'm long gone and you look at my name, you won't think that it was just Mike McDevitt, you'll remember that it was the women's basketball program that attained the honor of having the name on the court."
