Dwayne Lee enters his fourth year as an assistant coach at FDU on Greg Herenda's staff.
Last season, Lee played an integral part in the Knights' 10-win turnaround as the team earned an NEC Championship and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.
Prior to joining the Knights' staff, Lee served as the graduate manager at Northeast Conference rival Wagner in 2012-13, where the Seahawks finished 19-12 (12-6 NEC) and made the semifinals in the NEC Tournament for the second year in a row.
“Dwayne brings a wealth of winning playing experience to our program and has played for some of the games great coaches,” Herenda said. “Dwayne will immediately help with player development and will serve as a terrific role model for all of our players. Dwayne will undoubtedly become a rising star in the coaching ranks very quickly.”
Lee earned four letters while playing in two NCAA Tournaments for Saint Joseph's from 2002-2006. Over his first two years on Hawk Hill, the Jersey City native served as a back-up point guard to 2004 National Player of the Year and Orlando Magic All-Star guard Jameer Nelson. As a sophomore, Lee helped the Hawks to a perfect regular season, 30 wins and a berth in the Elite Eight.
He then made the seamless transition to starter for his final two years with the Hawks, guiding the Philadelphia-based school to the finals of the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) as a junior and a pair of Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game appearances. All told, Lee was a part of 96 wins, the second best total for a four-year class in school history, while finishing 11th with 371 assists.
Additionally, Lee was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team as a junior, while earning Most Improved Player honors from the Philadelphia Big 5. Following his time at Saint Joseph's, Lee played professionally for the Sellbytel Baskets in Germany's top division, before helping the Vermont Frost Heaves to the ABA Championship. He then concluded his playing career with Etha Basketball in the first division of the Cyprus League.
Lee played prep ball at St. Anthony High School, under the direction of legendary Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley, helping the Friars to two straight New Jersey State Tournament of Champions titles and a No. 2 National Ranking by USA Today.
"I am very excited to be joining the staff here at FDU," Lee said. "Coach Herenda is a well-respected coach in this business, and I am excited to be part of what he has planned for this program going forward. I am going to bring tons of energy, excitement and the experience of coaching in the NEC last season. I am looking forward to big things in the near future."
Lee graduated from Saint Joseph's in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in marketing.
St. Anthony head coach Bob Hurley on Coach Lee: “First of all, I am very excited to see Greg (Herenda) take over as coach at FDU because he has been a friend of mine for decades, and was a camper at my basketball camps growing up. I am even more excited by his hire of Dwayne Lee. Dwayne is one of my favorite kids I have ever been associated with. The hiring of Dwayne was a great move for the University and a terrific opportunity for Dwayne. I know this will be a relationship that will get FDU back in the running in the NEC.”
Saint Joseph head coach Phil Martelli on Coach Lee: “In the long and proud tradition of Saint Joseph's University, no one has brought more honor to his family name, this program and this University than Dwayne Lee. His future in the coaching profession is bright and without limit."
