DePaul head coach Dave Leitao fired after nine total seasons with the program

DePaul announced Monday that head coach Dave Leitao, who just completed his ninth season with the program, is out. This was the second stint with the Blue Demons for Leitao, who previously parlayed a successful three-year run with team into the Virginia job in 2005.

“After evaluating where our men’s basketball program is currently and where we envision it to be moving forward, a decision was made to make a change in the head coaching position,” new AD DeWayne Peevy said in the release. “We want to thank Dave for his many contributions to the program, including his mentorship of our student athletes on and off the floor, his commitment to DEI efforts within our athletics department and support of our university-wide Vincentian mission.”

Leitao had an ally in previous DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto, who gave him an extension last Spring as a last gesture before retirement. However, with no real buyout and zero improvement on the court, the choice to move on should have been an easy one for Peevy.

“We will conduct a national search beginning immediately for our next head coach, Peevy said. “I’m committed to elevating our program to where we are still competing during this time of year.”

Leitao was 127-146 in total with DePaul and took the program to its most recent NCAA Tournament (in 2004), but in the second stint (2015-21) the Blue Demons were just 66-113 (.369) and went to the postseason just once – a CBI Runner-up in 2019.

What’s next for DePaul? Check our list of potential candidates HERE as part of our “Let’s Speculate!” series.

credit to Getty for the image