Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Kevin Billerman
- Title:
- Head Coach
Kevin Billerman became Florida Atlantic University's third head men's basketball coach in the program's eight-year history on May 23, 1995 - two years and one month, to the day, after the University received NCAA approval to move to the highest level of competition college athletics offers.
His response: "I'm going to assemble the best coaching staff I can, and we are going to bring a new family style of basketball to Florida Atlantic. It will be a new attitude for the team, the university and the community."
To accomplish this the first-year head coach drew upon experiences gained as a collegiate player, an international player and his decade of experience at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
In his first season, Billerman got the most of eight scholarship players (one redshirt) and three walk-ons on his way to developing a defensive-minded team that impressed every team they faced.
Under Billerman's direction, FAU showed marked improvement in rebounding and in blocks, despite being the smaller team on the court.
FAU also had its first player, Craig Buchanan, selected to the All-Conference team.
A former high school standout, Duke University captain and international professional player, Billerman was appointed to Jeff Mullin 's basketball staff at UNC-Charlotte in March of 1985. He was promoted April 1994 and was involved in Charlotte's recruiting as well as coaching strategies.
Billerman has been involved in every aspect of coaching. Earlier in his career, he coordinated the team travel and strength and conditioning program. Byron Dinkins, the 1988 Sun Belt Player of the Year and a member of the Houston Rockets 1989-90 team, credits "Coach B" with driving him to success in the weight room and developing the stamina to play collegiately and professionally. Billerman was also the program's coordinator of Charlotte's community service projects.
While at Charlotte, the 49ers made five postseason appearances in the last eight seasons of his tenure. UNC-C participated in the NCAA East Regional in '88, '92, '95 and were NIT participants in '89 and '94. Most recently, Charlotte won the 1995 Metro Conference Title.
Prior to coming to Florida Atlantic, Billerman assisted in game scheduling, recruiting, scouting opposition via video and helped develop individual player game and practice strategies. He was also the program's academic counselor from 1987 to 93.
During the summer of 1992, he was the head coach of the World Basketball League's expansion Hamilton Skyhawks of Canada. He produced a record of 17-17 before the W.B.L. ran into financial trouble and was disbanded on August I, 1992.
As a high school coach, Billerman made the transition to college coaching by coming from a stellar head coaching post at North Durham (N.C.) High School, where he posted an eight-year coaching record of I 21 wins and 84 losses, the most success of any span in the school's history. He won "Big 6" Conference titles in 1978 and 1980. His program posted a third-place finish in the 1978 state playoffs. During his tenure with Northern Durham, he was head coach of the golf team and assistant football coach while a teacher of psychology.
Billerman played collegiately at Duke University, 1972-75, after a standout prep career at St. Joseph's High in Toms River, N.J. At St. Joseph's he was a highly recruited basketball guard and football quarterback. He turned down a number of football scholarships to major programs before signing a scholarship to join Duke's basketball program. His uniform number in both sports were retired at St. Joseph's upon his graduation, and he was recently inducted into the NJ. Hall of Fame.
At Duke, Billerman was selected the I 974-75 Blue Devils "Best Defensive Player" and holds the enviable distinction of having been one of only three players in the program's storied history to be named captain in two seasons, joining Art Heyman and Jim Spanarkel. Billerman lettered three playing seasons (freshman were not eligible in 1971-72) and led Duke in assists each of his last two years.
Billerman graduated from Duke with a B.A. degree in psychology in 197 5. He went on to play professional basketball overseas as a player-coach for Nyon, Switzerland, and led the team in scoring with an average of more than 30 points per game and coached the squad to a 31- 5 record.
He was married August 4, 1990, to the former Jenny Lee of Charlotte and they are the parents of sons Sean and Quinn.
Born: February 28, 1953, in Newark, NJ
Education:
St. Joseph's High School, Toms River, NJ,
Duke University (BA Psychology, 1975)
Playing Experience:
Lettered at Duke, 1973, '74, '75
Player-Coach, Nyon, Switzerland, 1975-76
Coaching Experience:
Head Coach
1976-84, Northern Durham HS, 8 years, (121-84 record)
Player & Coach
1975, Nyon, Switzerland, 1 year, (31-5 record)
Assistant Coach:
1985-95, UNC Charlotte (10 years).
Head Coach
1992, Hamilton Skyhawks (World Basketball League); 1 year, Head Coach, 17-17 record
Head Coach
1995 - Florida Atlantic, 9-18, 5-11 TAAC
1996 - Florida Atlantic, 16-11, 11-5 TAAC
1997 - Florida Atlantic, 5-22, 5-11 TAAC
1998 - Florida Atlantic, 6-20, 3-13 TAAC
His response: "I'm going to assemble the best coaching staff I can, and we are going to bring a new family style of basketball to Florida Atlantic. It will be a new attitude for the team, the university and the community."
To accomplish this the first-year head coach drew upon experiences gained as a collegiate player, an international player and his decade of experience at the University of North Carolina Charlotte.
In his first season, Billerman got the most of eight scholarship players (one redshirt) and three walk-ons on his way to developing a defensive-minded team that impressed every team they faced.
Under Billerman's direction, FAU showed marked improvement in rebounding and in blocks, despite being the smaller team on the court.
FAU also had its first player, Craig Buchanan, selected to the All-Conference team.
A former high school standout, Duke University captain and international professional player, Billerman was appointed to Jeff Mullin 's basketball staff at UNC-Charlotte in March of 1985. He was promoted April 1994 and was involved in Charlotte's recruiting as well as coaching strategies.
Billerman has been involved in every aspect of coaching. Earlier in his career, he coordinated the team travel and strength and conditioning program. Byron Dinkins, the 1988 Sun Belt Player of the Year and a member of the Houston Rockets 1989-90 team, credits "Coach B" with driving him to success in the weight room and developing the stamina to play collegiately and professionally. Billerman was also the program's coordinator of Charlotte's community service projects.
While at Charlotte, the 49ers made five postseason appearances in the last eight seasons of his tenure. UNC-C participated in the NCAA East Regional in '88, '92, '95 and were NIT participants in '89 and '94. Most recently, Charlotte won the 1995 Metro Conference Title.
Prior to coming to Florida Atlantic, Billerman assisted in game scheduling, recruiting, scouting opposition via video and helped develop individual player game and practice strategies. He was also the program's academic counselor from 1987 to 93.
During the summer of 1992, he was the head coach of the World Basketball League's expansion Hamilton Skyhawks of Canada. He produced a record of 17-17 before the W.B.L. ran into financial trouble and was disbanded on August I, 1992.
As a high school coach, Billerman made the transition to college coaching by coming from a stellar head coaching post at North Durham (N.C.) High School, where he posted an eight-year coaching record of I 21 wins and 84 losses, the most success of any span in the school's history. He won "Big 6" Conference titles in 1978 and 1980. His program posted a third-place finish in the 1978 state playoffs. During his tenure with Northern Durham, he was head coach of the golf team and assistant football coach while a teacher of psychology.
Billerman played collegiately at Duke University, 1972-75, after a standout prep career at St. Joseph's High in Toms River, N.J. At St. Joseph's he was a highly recruited basketball guard and football quarterback. He turned down a number of football scholarships to major programs before signing a scholarship to join Duke's basketball program. His uniform number in both sports were retired at St. Joseph's upon his graduation, and he was recently inducted into the NJ. Hall of Fame.
At Duke, Billerman was selected the I 974-75 Blue Devils "Best Defensive Player" and holds the enviable distinction of having been one of only three players in the program's storied history to be named captain in two seasons, joining Art Heyman and Jim Spanarkel. Billerman lettered three playing seasons (freshman were not eligible in 1971-72) and led Duke in assists each of his last two years.
Billerman graduated from Duke with a B.A. degree in psychology in 197 5. He went on to play professional basketball overseas as a player-coach for Nyon, Switzerland, and led the team in scoring with an average of more than 30 points per game and coached the squad to a 31- 5 record.
He was married August 4, 1990, to the former Jenny Lee of Charlotte and they are the parents of sons Sean and Quinn.
Born: February 28, 1953, in Newark, NJ
Education:
St. Joseph's High School, Toms River, NJ,
Duke University (BA Psychology, 1975)
Playing Experience:
Lettered at Duke, 1973, '74, '75
Player-Coach, Nyon, Switzerland, 1975-76
Coaching Experience:
Head Coach
1976-84, Northern Durham HS, 8 years, (121-84 record)
Player & Coach
1975, Nyon, Switzerland, 1 year, (31-5 record)
Assistant Coach:
1985-95, UNC Charlotte (10 years).
Head Coach
1992, Hamilton Skyhawks (World Basketball League); 1 year, Head Coach, 17-17 record
Head Coach
1995 - Florida Atlantic, 9-18, 5-11 TAAC
1996 - Florida Atlantic, 16-11, 11-5 TAAC
1997 - Florida Atlantic, 5-22, 5-11 TAAC
1998 - Florida Atlantic, 6-20, 3-13 TAAC
Tuesday, May 12
Tuesday, May 05
Thursday, April 23
Wednesday, April 08
