July 17, 2009

The 600-plus aspiring players at the Jim Calhoun Basketball Camp last week learned about a PhD from Greg Herenda, head coach at UMass Lowell.

Herenda, readying for his second year as men's basketball coach with the River Hawks, administered the lecture, entitled "The Doctor of Defense: Pressure, Help, Denial."

Herenda knows a thing or two about defense as the 2008-09 River Hawks ranked among NCAA Division II leaders in several defensive categories: steals (sixth, 10.6 per game), 3-point field goal defense (eighth, .291), scoring defense (17th, 62.4 points per game) and field goal percentage defense (.406, 31st).

"It is an honor to lecture on the court where national champions practice and play. Coach Calhoun and Coach (George) Blaney have been so great to me and our program," Herenda said. "I have a blast teaching young people not only how to play but how to learn life lessons."

Herenda has been speaking at Calhoun's camp for five years. He has also been a lecturer/counselor at many camps, including the renowned Five-Star Basketball Camp in Honesdale, PA.

Herenda was a long-time assistant to Blaney, currently the associate head coach at the University of Connecticut, and formerly head coach at the Holy Cross and Seton Hall.

UMass Lowell faces the Huskies in a preseason exhibition on Sunday, Nov. 8 at the XL Center. Last year, UConn prevailed 82-63 in Hartford.

The River Hawks open the season Sunday, Nov. 15 (3:00) against Mercy College at UMass Lowell's Costello Athletic Center.