May 4, 2016
THE FLATS – Darryl LaBarrie, a former Georgia Tech assistant coach and player with deep Atlanta roots, is returning to his alma mater’s basketball staff as an assistant coach, head coach Josh Pastner announced Wednesday.
LaBarrie concluded a successful five-year stint on the staff at Georgia State with the 2015-16 season, in which the Panthers won two Sun Belt Conference regular-season titles and averaged more than 20 wins a season. Prior to his arrival at GSU five years ago, LaBarrie spent the previous two seasons on the staff at Georgia Tech under Paul Hewitt, where his primary responsibilities were recruiting and developing the perimeter players.
“I’m excited that Darryl is coming back to Georgia Tech,” said Pastner. “He has spent most of his playing and coaching career in his hometown, and he knows this area and as well as anyone. He’s a tremendous coach, and he knows what Georgia Tech is all about. His high level of character and integrity will add a lot to this program.”
LaBarrie helped Georgia State to two of its most successful seasons in program history between 2013 and 2015. To go along with that, Georgia State won more games over the last five years than at any other stretch in program history.
“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity to work with Coach Pastner, who is one of the hardest workers and brightest minds in college basketball,” said LaBarrie. “Georgia Tech is one of the premier programs in the country historically and a place that I call home. I will work tirelessly to help get the program back to the level of national prominence that it once enjoyed.”
During the Panthers’ successful two-year run, Georgia State won 25 games each year, one of just 20 programs in the country to accomplish the feat. It was capped in 2014-15 with a win over No. 3-seed Baylor in the NCAA tournament as the Panthers advanced to the third round for just the second time in school history. Georgia State won both the Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles on the way to the postseason.
The 2013-14 season saw the Panthers win 25 games, win the Sun Belt regular season title and advance to the post-season NIT for just the second time in school history.
In 2012-13, he oversaw the recruitment and signing of R.J. Hunter, who went on to be a two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year and receive AP All-America honorable mention recognition in each of the last two seasons. He also recruited Ryan Harrow, a Parade first-team All-American and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year, to play at Georgia State, and Manny Atkins, a top-60 recruit out of high school. Harrow was a two-time All-Sun Belt first-team member.
In his first season with the Panthers, LaBarrie helped the squad to 22 wins, and the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. GSU finished among the top 20 in the NCAA in scoring defense, defensive field-goal percentage, blocked shots and steals.
In 2015-16, Georgia State earned its third straight winning season, the second-longest streak in program history, going 16-14. The Panthers opened non-conference play 7-2, the third-best start in program history.
In his first season with the Yellow Jackets (2009-10), LaBarrie helped Tech a 23-13 record and the second round of the NCAA tournament. Tech nearly won the ACC tournament, falling to Duke 65-61 in the championship.
During his second season, LaBarrie continued to oversee the development of Iman Shumpert, who led the Yellow Jackets in scoring, rebounds and assists and was named All-ACC second-team as well as the conference’s all-defensive team.
Prior to his stint with the Yellow Jackets, LaBarrie spent two seasons as an assistant coach at East Carolina. LaBarrie helped the Pirates produce the top two three-point shooting seasons in school history and ranked first or second in Conference USA in that category in his two seasons. During the 2008-09 season, ECU made a school-record 261 treys, breaking the mark established the previous year.
A 2001 graduate of Georgia Tech, LaBarrie spent the 2006-07 season as an assistant coach at Campbell. Prior to joining the Camels’ staff, he served as a coach with the highly regarded Atlanta Celtics AAU program. He also worked as a regional NBA scout for Marty Blake’s Court Report while serving as an assistant coach at Stone Mountain (Ga.) High School.
LaBarrie earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Georgia State in 2005 while serving as a graduate assistant at Tech. He worked one year in general athletics administration (2003-04), then the following year with the men’s basketball program (2004-05).
LaBarrie earned three letters at Georgia Tech, playing two years under Bobby Cremins and one season for Hewitt. He helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the 2001 NCAA tournament and received his B.S. in management that year.
He began his collegiate career at Florida A&M, where he earned Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference All-Rookie team honors as a freshman before transferring to Tech.
A native of Decatur, Ga., LaBarrie was named first-team all-state and Dekalb County Player of the Year as a senior when he led Tucker High School to a state title.
LaBarrie and his wife, Aisha, are the parents of three daughters, Sydney, Kai and Diarra.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S BASKETBALL
Georgia Tech’s men’s basketball team is in its first year under head coach Josh Pastner. Tech has been a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1979, won three ACC Championships (1985, 1990, 1993), played in the NCAA Tournament 16 times and played in two Final Fours (1990, 2004). Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball on social media by liking their Facebook Page, or following on Twitter (@GTMBB).
For more information on Tech basketball, visit Ramblinwreck.com. Tickets for men’s basketball can be purchased here.
