City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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Zach Spiker remembers his first trip to Philadelphia rather vividly. It was about two decades ago, and his destination was the nosebleeds at Veterans Stadium.

Unfortunately for Spiker, the tickets he had for a late-season Eagles-Cowboys affair on Dec. 10, 1995, had him surrounded by Dallas fans.

“The hot chocolate before the game started, we were sitting near the Cowboys fans,” Spiker recalled Tuesday afternoon. “I was getting yelled at for no reason. That was my first real exposure to Philadelphia. I loved it."

He remembered a lot details about the day and the game – the Cowboys got stuffed on a 4th-and-1 which opened the door for an Eagles win and he went to Jim’s for a steak afterward. Spiker is about to be a part of a lot more games in Philadelphia, and he wants to create more memories for himself and fans of Drexel basketball.

The 39-year-old was officially introduced as the Dragons’ new coach on Tuesday afternoon in an on-campus ceremony. Spiker got an introduction from school provost M. Brian Blake, Athletic Director Dr. Eric Zillmer and then Spiker addressed the crowd, which featured Drexel players, fans, Penn coach Steve Donahue – whom Spiker served under previously at Cornell – and Spiker’s family.

It was the first step for Spiker, who spent the last six seasons leading Army, in building his foundation at Drexel, a program left starved for an NCAA Tournament appearance after getting on the precipice of the Big Dance twice in 15 years under Bruiser Flint.

The next steps are a bit more complicated.

Spiker’s main focus is to get to know the team he just signed up to coach – and that means more so personally than it does about basketball. He’s watched film, yes, and will start implementing his style of play for the Dragons over the next few months. But Spiker wants to first build relationships with his players.

That’s why he met with them on Monday night and grabbed a burger with rising senior Rodney Williams afterward. He has a lot to do – hire assistants, find a new home for him, his wife and three children and start recruiting – but Spiker wants the current Drexel players to feel at ease about this transition.

“I have a plan, but it has to start with taking care of those guys,” Spiker said, referring to the Dragons’ roster. “We have a checklist. But the most important is that these guys are back in school, dialed in and moving in the right direction. They’re our guys. It’s not one coach or another coach. They’re Drexel guys and I’m the Drexel coach.”

Spiker is taking over a program coming off a 6-25 season, and one that has just 17 wins in the last two seasons – both of which were marred by injuries. But one of the things Spiker said on Tuesday was that “where he sees challenges, there are also opportunities,” and with him at the helm, there's some hope for a jumpstart of the program.

“It was a tough year, I understand that, respect that,” Spiker said. “Maybe this will renew some energy and get some guys going. I know a big part is we have to get some guys going. We’re not healthy today. We need healthy bodies and we’ll keep working as we get a staff, get some recruits and go from there.”

As far as getting a staff in place, Spiker said it’s less about a timetable and more about getting the right people. When asked about the possibility of bringing some of his Army staff with him, he noted it was a “fluid” process with his old program searching for his replacement.

And in terms of recruiting, Spiker will begin that process shortly as well. It starts with assessing the current transfer market, fifth-year seniors and otherwise, to join the Dragons next year. The Dragons will have one extra scholarship open next season as freshman guard Terrell Allen opted to transfer following Flint’s departure.

Spiker toured the city he first met 20 years ago last week, and he’s planning it on using it as a tool in getting others to join him in University City.

“You have all that stuff to sell to recruits and you got the Big 5, Philadelphia basketball, I think it’s a great draw, it’s a great attraction,” he said. “I think it attracted me to be here.”