DePaul offers athletic director job to DeWayne Peevy
Photo courtesy of A Sea of Blue
Kentucky deputy director of athletics DeWayne Peevy.
DePaul has offered its athletic director job to DeWayne Peevy, a source confirmed to The DePaulia on Monday.
Peevy has yet to accept the offer, but DePaul is currently in the process of finishing the deal, according to a source.
Peevy, who is currently Kentucky’s deputy director of athletics, recently interviewed for DePaul’s AD opening.
DePaul has been in need of a new athletic director after Jean Lenti Ponsetto announced on June 5 that she will be retiring this summer. Lenti Ponsetto has been the Blue Demons’ athletic director since 2002, and will be stepping away once the university hires a new person.
In 2015, Peevy was reportedly a finalist for the same role at UCF. He has been working at Kentucky for 12 years, and works closely with the men’s basketball program and head coach John Calipari.
Kentucky has had one of the most successful men’s basketball team’s under Peevy and Calipari, including an NCAA Tournament title in 2012.
DePaul’s men’s basketball program, however, has not been able to make the NCAA Tournament since 2004, and last made the NIT in 2007. Lenti Ponsetto has hired three different head coaches, Jerry Wainwright, Oliver Purnell and Dave Leitao, in 18 years in an effort to turnaround the program.
Peevy also has experience working in the Southeastern Conference for eight years, serving as the day-to-day men’s basketball publicity. A graduate of the University of Montevallo, Peevy was on the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four Media Coordination Committee through the 2013 NCAA Championship.
In July, Peevy was named as one of the “behind-the-scenes power players” in the SEC.
DePaul was also reportedly looking at Northwestern’s Mike Polisky as late as last week. In an effort to find a new athletic director by September, DePaul has formed a search committee and hired DHR International to help find candidates for the opening.
The search committee is led by DePaul’s chief of staff Steve Stoute, and features six other members from the university.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Tim Overstreet • Nov 27, 2020 at 7:20 pm
AD, Peevy,
What are the chances that men athletics will be expanded, specifically baseball? We are in a conference that has a rich baseball history and no team participating in the Big East currently. The Chicagoland area has produced a fair amount of collegiate and professional baseball players. It would be nice to see DePaul showcased in other major sports. It would also be nice to see a football program, not sure if it’s achievable.
DePaul is a big time college. But, I feel like we have only one foot in big time college athletics. I don’t understand why male athletics in the major sports has not expanded over the years. DePaul University has strong alumni, with the potential to reach a larger audience, which would great for generating more resources for university, other athletic programs, current and former students. Just curious what our new Athletic Director is thinking in terms of growing the athletic program. Thank you for listening!
Sincerely,
Tim Overstreet
CT • Aug 20, 2020 at 5:26 pm
Regardless if JLP had done some good things, men’s hoops pays the bills and has been a massive disappointment for nearly 20 years. It is pure mismanagement and change is the only way. Older people that remember good DePaul basketball days (’70’s-’90s) want more whereas I feel too many younger DePaul people just consider DePaul as a lovable loser and set expectations accordingly. Good luck to DeWayne Peevy, he may be exactly what we need!
John g • Aug 20, 2020 at 10:00 am
The short list was dewayne, mike p from northwestern, wood from ucf and the ass. AD from Tulane
Mike Moren • Aug 19, 2020 at 7:10 am
this sounds potentially like a tremendous hire. Peevy has fantastic experience. Given DePaul’s diminished position, lack of a football program, tempered by a much improved mens BB and a consistently stellar womens BB program could we hope for a better outcome?
Depaul 1995 • Aug 18, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Time to bury the past.
Joseph Norfritz • Aug 18, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Who else was interviewed? How many individuals not “of color” were even considered? Just wondering who made the short list? Congratulations to Mr. Peevey. How much money was wasted retaining a search firm that suggested one or two names? How does DeWayne feel about defunding the Chicago Police Department and ensuring CPD employees that are also DePaul matriculants, should be banished from Wintrust Arena unless wearing a BLM t-shirt and sporting a tattoo of Eldridge Cleaver somewhere on their person?
Arthur J Wilson III • Aug 17, 2020 at 7:32 pm
The Lentil Family, especially Jeannie , should have been let go. Their legacy is one of losing, year after year
George Kotnour '74 • Aug 17, 2020 at 7:25 pm
The Lenti family has contributed in making DePaul University what it is today. The Lenti family should be given a great big THANK YOU, and not let them “ride off into the sunset”. Their dedication and work to DePaul is an unheralded contribution to the history of DePaul University.
God bless the Lenti family!
I was a business major, not an English teacher .
George Kotnour '74 • Aug 17, 2020 at 7:24 pm
The Lenti family has contributed in making DePaul University what it is today. The Lenti family should be given a great big THANK YOU, and not let them “ride off into the sunset”. Their dedication and work to DePaul is an unheralded contribution to the history of DePaul University.
God bless the Lenti family!
George Kotnour '74 • Aug 17, 2020 at 7:22 pm
The Lenti family has contributed in making DePaul University what it is today. The Lenti family should be given a great big THANK YOU, and not letting them “ride off into the sunset”. Their dedication and work to DePaul is an unheralded contribution to the history of DePaul University.
God bless the Lenti family!