Work Samples 2009-10 LIU Brooklyn Basketball Media Guide | Page 6

Head Coach Jim Ferry Head Coach•Eighth Season • Keene State, 1990 After seven seasons at Long Island University, Jim Ferry has turned the Blackbirds into consistent contenders in the Northeast Conference. The 2004-05 NEC Coach of the Year, Ferry has put his stamp on the LIU program, bringing a passion and intensity that has helped him become a highly successful head coach at the collegiate level. Ferry arrived on the Brooklyn campus and inherited a program that was in need of a complete overhaul. His ?rst season saw immediate improvement in the squad and heading into his eighth season Ferry has built the Blackbirds into championship contenders by focusing on the fundamentals of a strong defense and an ef?cient offense. With a roster of talented, multi-dimensional athletes, Ferry has cultivated excitement around a program that has settled into its home at the state-of-the-art Wellness, Recreation and Athletics Center in downtown Brooklyn. Ferry took over the Blackbirds following an outstanding coaching record in the Division II and III ranks, collecting over 100 career wins in just four season, which is believed to make him the seventhfastest coach in NCAA history to reach the plateau. Ferry and his staff recognize the history of the program and have worked hard to restore the Blackbirds to their past glory. “We have a group of young and talented players here that have developed a winning identity,” Ferry said. “We’ve gotten quality individuals, good recruits, solid students and guys that have bought into the program. The philosophy we preach every day involves a commitment to come out and be tough, physical and aggresive, both offensively and defensively. If we consistently defend and outrebound our opponents we will win games.” Ferry and the Blackbirds found themselves among the elite teams in the conference during the 2008-09 season as LIU posted a winning record with a 16-14 mark overall and a second-place tie in the standings with a 12-6 conference record. LIU ranked second in the league in both scoring offense and rebounding margin, while Jaytornah Wisseh earned all-NEC ?rst team honors and Julian Boyd became the second NEC Rookie of the Year under Ferry. Ferry turned in one of his best coaching performances during the 2007-08 season after leading the Blackbirds to their best campaign in a decade. LIU was picked 11th in the league’s preseason poll, but he took a young squad and guided it to an 8-3 non-league mark. The Blackbirds ?nished the regular season with a winning record for the ?rst time since 1997-98 and de?ed predictions to advance to the conference tournament. Wisseh was named second team all-conference, while David Hicks and Kyle Johnson earned all-rookie honors, establishing a young foundation that LIU has built its success upon. The Blackbirds had high expectations heading into the 2006-07 season, having been picked third in the preseason conference poll, but a rash of injuries plagued the roster. The season had its highlights, with senior James Williams moving into fourth-place on the career scoring list scoring and earning a spot on the All-NEC Second Team. Wisseh was named to the All-Rookie Team and the Blackbirds also won the “Battle of Brooklyn?? ?f?"F?R6V6??B7G&?v?B?V"v?F???"?s?v???fW"&?&?Vv??&?f?7B?g&?6?2????????Rv2??W&VBGW&??rF?R#R?b6V6??'????W&?W22vV????6?VF??r???V?G2F?F?&VR7F'FW'2BF?R6?RF??R?F?B&W7V?FVB??&V?F?fV?6??r7F'B?F?R&?6?&?&G2&??VBF?v?F?R7G&WF6??6??6??r?WBF?R&VwV?"6V6??v?F?V?v?Bv??2??F?V?"????"v?W2?F?R?????76W26?Rv??7BF?RF?F?&VRFV?2??F?R7F?F??w22?R6??6VBF?R?V"??&????BGf?6VBF?F?R?VwVRF?W&??V?B?F?R#B?R&?6?&?&G2vW&R?6?VBF???F?R&W6V6??6?6?W2????'WBV?FW"fW''?( ?2wV?F?6RF?R??V?rFV?V&?VBf?W'F???6R????6???F?R?VwVR7F?F??w2v?F??&V6?&B?F?R&?6?&?&G>( ?GW&?&?V?Bv26???v?R??&?fV?V?Bg&??F?R&Wf??W2?V"?v??6??B???r?6??B&?6?&?&G2( "#??&6?WF&??( "wwr??VF??WF?72?6???#?????r?6??BV??fW'6?G?&6?WF&?????