D.J. Black - Men's Basketball Coach

D.J. Black

Title:
Assistant to the Head Coach
Email:
dblack2@uab.edu
Alma Mater:
Penn State '06
Experience:
6th season
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, Pa.

D.J. Black is entering his sixth season on the UAB coaching staff.

In his first season with the Blazers, Black was part of a team that made a remarkable run during the 2014-15 season, claiming UAB's first-ever Conference USA Tournament Championship, before advancing to the Round of 32 at the 2015 NCAA Tournament with a 60-59 win against No. 3 seed Iowa State.

Black helped UAB continue its success in 2015-16 when the Blazers captured the Conference USA regular-season championship with a school-record 16 C-USA victories. The Blazers also finished with a school-record 26 wins and reached the postseason for the second straight year following a berth in the NIT.

Black came to UAB after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Navy.

In 2012-13, the Midshipmen improved by five wins from the previous season, ranking as the ninth-best single-season improvement in school history. Black played a vital role in opponent scouting and game-planning and was instrumental in the development of Navy's youngsters as the freshman class set the school record for percentage of points scored by a freshman class in a season. Tilman Dunbar was named to the Patriot League all-Rookie Team and Navy showed glimpses of its potential with a lineup that featured no seniors on the roster. Navy would start two freshmen, two sophomores and one junior for a majority of the season and the Navy defense ranked 42nd nationally and second in the Patriot League in scoring defense, recording the third-lowest defensive scoring average in school history. Black also played a large role in recruiting for the midshipmen by signing All-Patriot League First Team selection Shawn Anderson. Anderson would go on to become the first player in Navy history to amass over 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 300 career assists.

Black went to Navy after spending three seasons (2008-11) at Penn State under Ed DeChellis as the video coordinator and the director of basketball operations. At Penn State, he helped coach the Nittany Lions to a spot in the 2011 NCAA Tournament and the 2009 NIT Championship setting a school record for wins. At Penn State, Black played a large role in the administration and operations of the program as well as opponent scouting and game planning.

Black started his coaching career at East Stroudsburg University as an assistant coach under Jeff Wilson in 2007, where he helped coach two all-conference post players in Chris Bach and Channon Easley. The Warriors made their third straight playoff appearance and had a record of 18-10 while riding a 13-game win streak, the second longest in school history at the time. Black's responsibilities included on-court coaching, recruiting, player development, scouting and film exchange.

Black began his collegiate playing career at Penn State-Altoona where he helped lead the team to the school's first ever AMCC playoff. He finished his career as a walk-on, practice team player at Penn State as he helped the Nittany Lions reach the 2006 NIT. He is a 2006 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in health and physical education.

Black has also been involved as a coach or director in various basketball camps at Penn State, East Stroudsburg, Duke, Wake Forest, Saint Francis, Blair Academy and numerous Hoop Group Elite camps.