ESPN: Coaches at a crossroads

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The bright side is that Purnell has been successful before and the worst is behind him.

9. Oliver Purnell (DePaul): In 2010, when Purnell left a Clemson program that had just become routinely competitive, the challenges became apparent at once. At the time, when ESPNChicago.com's Jon Greenberg asked Morgan Park High School coach Nick Irvin for his thoughts on the hire, Irvin openly broke into "peals of laughter." The message you heard around town came through loud and clear: "We don't know this dude. DePaul didn't kiss the rings. LOL." It's one thing to deal with a decrepit arena and an apathetic fan base and a team that won a grand total of one (!) Big East game in the two seasons preceding your arrival; it's another to face all that with local ward bosses coaches laughing you out of the room.

There are signs, despite three years of quintessential DePaul struggle, that Purnell is finally, mercifully making some headway. This fall, Morgan Park's own Billy Garrett Jr. -- a four-star ESPN 100 recruit coming off a Class 3A national title under Irvin -- will be joining the Blue Demons. In May, the City of Chicago announced its plans to split a new McCormick Place arena with the school, slated to open in 2016-17. This fall, DePaul enters the almost-certainly-less-punishing new Big East. While on the court, DePaul's two best players -- Brandon Young and Cleveland Melvin, lone bright spots during three otherwise forgettable seasons -- are seniors. No matter what happens, Purnell will be just fine. DePaul AD Jean Lenti Ponsetto was widely criticized for giving the 60-year-old coach a seven-year, $15 million retirement plan. How long Purnell will survive into the new era of DePaul hoops is up for debate. But he has a history of methodical rebuilds, and a chance to set the table for whatever comes next. This season looks like the best place to start.

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