More than 100 Maryland men’s basketball alumni and their families returned to College Park for the Terps’ 64-60 win against Washington on Feb. 21, marking the public launch of the Maryland Basketball Coalition.
Former Maryland basketball players Dave Neal and Matt Raydo formed the nonprofit after talking about how alumni could have a more active role in supporting today’s program. Neal said the goal is to reunite past players, coaches and staff to strengthen the current team.
“The ultimate vision for it is to bring back Maryland basketball alumni,” Neal said on Glenn Clark Radio Feb. 24. “That’s former coaches, former players, former managers, pretty much everyone who wore the Maryland jersey shirts across their chest.”
Neal hopes to uplift the program’s professional network while also supporting the current team and staff.
“Our intention is solely through events, through different meetups, [to] get people back on campus, get people excited and help [athletic director Jim Smith and head coach Buzz Williams] turn Maryland athletics and Maryland basketball back to the kind of pedestal that it once was [on],” Neal said.
The turnout against Washington was a strong start. Neal said about 75 alumni attended a practice and several former players observed film sessions with the coaching staff.
“This was the largest amount of alumni back for a single game in Maryland history,” he said. “We got a standing ovation when the fans came when we went on the court at halftime.”
Smith and Williams welcomed the initiative, Neal said, and helped coordinate events with faculty and staff.
“With cooperation and working closely with Jim Smith and the athletic department, I think this thing could be very special for Maryland basketball and Maryland alumni moving forward,” Neal said.
Neal mentioned how the coalition is aiming to ease the burden on the coaching staff while building up an alumni presence.
“We’ll take it off Buzz and his team … and this will be the foundation of what’s really going to build the coalition,” he said.
Neal is helping out from his current home in Rio de Janeiro, and it’s not hindering his involvement as he was present this past weekend for Alumni Day. Neal and his wife have lived in Brazil for almost eight years working as diplomats, his wife working with the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro.
“That’s what this [past] weekend was built around … to reunite the Maryland pride, the flame that we all have and all love about the University of Maryland, and get us back on campus,” Neal said.
And it’s not about changing the team, as Neal said he has a lot of confidence in Williams despite the recent challenges.
“Buzz is a winner. You can look at his record. He wins a lot of games. He takes teams to NCAA Tournaments,” Neal said, adding that fans should “stay on board. Stay excited, keep showing your support.”
For more from Neal, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Maryland Athletics