Maryland hires Cliff Warren as Director of Basketball Operations

As reported by Alex Prewitt, Cliff Warren has been hired by the Terrapins basketball program as the Director of Basketball Operations. The position was formerly filled by current assistant coach Dustin Clark, who was promoted after the departure of Dalonte Hill. It remained vacant during this past basketball season.

Warren, a Silver Spring, MD native, had been the head coach at Jacksonville University from 2005-2014, putting together the winningest tenure in Dolphin basketball history (126-150). After a inaugural season that saw the team go 1-26, he averaged 18 wins for the next five years, including back-to-back NIT berths in 2009 and 2010. His final three seasons didn't go as well - all under .500 and finishing with a record of 12-18.

Before Jacksonville, he was an assistant coach under Paul Hewitt at Siena (1997-2000) and Georgia Tech (2000-2005). According to his Georgia Tech bio Warren was, "instrumental in the development of Tech point guards Tony Akins and Jarrett Jack." Warren is credited with being the lead recruiter on Jack, who grew up in Maryland. He was also on the Georgia Tech staff when the Yellow Jackets landed future NBA players Chris Bosh and Will Bynum.

Another quote that might interest Maryland fans is from Hewitt after Warren was hired at Jacksonville (emphasis is my own):

"Cliff is one of the best coaches I've ever worked with in terms of preparing and working with point guards. He loves the individual development aspect of the game." (via RamblinWreck.com)

Warren played basketball for Mount Saint Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD , graduating in 1990. Upon graduating, he served as a graduate assistant for three seasons. Before heading to Siena he interned for the Washington Wizards, was an assistant coach at Paint Branch High School (his alma mater) and served as a substitute teacher in the Montgomery County school district.