Family and culture are the two defining characteristics of the Oakland University men’s basketball program. As the team leaves a historic season behind, these traits will continue to uplift the program to greater heights.
Collin Shannon, the director of basketball operations at OU, keeps these values alive. When the basketball team held its alumni night, not every past player was able to attend. Despite this fact, Shannon made sure to make all alumni feel appreciated.
This was the case for Darrel Cole, a walk-on men’s basketball player from 1988-91. Cole, a California resident, would have had to travel far to make it to the alumni event.
Shannon showed his appreciation to Cole by sending him a “Pioneers” shirt, which was the team’s mascot during his playing career. Attached to the shirt was a note, personally penned by Shannon.
“[Shannon] sent the shirts that said ‘Oakland Basketball Family’ on it, to all the alumni that used to play there,” Cole said. “I got it, might have been one day before [Oakland] won the league championship.”
The shirt and note left a profound impression on Cole.
“That was a really personal thing. After all, who writes notes anymore?” Cole said. “I emailed them back and said ‘Collin, this is gold, man. This says a lot about the university and the basketball program.’”
Shannon strives to make alumni athletes feel like they are a part of OU Athletics, even after they graduate. As Cole puts it, Shannon’s dedication shows the positive culture that has been established in OU’s basketball program. Coach Greg Kampe, was an integral part of establishing this culture.
“Coach Kampe always wanted his guys to be good teammates and good people, that was important to him,” Cole said. “One of the things I learned from him was ‘Don’t quit, you make a mistake, you have to pick yourself up and go at it again.’”
While Kampe may display tough love on the court, he cares deeply about his players – former and present.
“[At my senior basketball banquet] he said something that I’ll never forget,” Cole said. “He’s like, ‘You know, the one thing I wish I would have had was Darrel for four years.”
Kampe’s words meant a lot to Cole.
“He believed in me, you know,” Cole said.
Kampe’s confidence in those he coaches has continued. His belief in his players, particularly Jack Gohlke, has been a common theme in the national media.
Kampe’s players, who are upstanding individuals on and off the court, afford him that confidence. OU men’s basketball players bought into the program.
Family and culture are two foundational principles of Kampe’s program. These attributes most recently earned his team a trip to the NCAA Tournament and an upset win over Kentucky.
Going forward, Cole sees the program’s culture as an integral part of keeping OU basketball on the map.
“I think [Kampe] set a culture there and the players are gonna see, whether it’s a new recruit out of high school or the transfer, they’re gonna see the culture he set there,” Cole said. “Players are going to be like ‘Damn, I want to play for that guy.’”
With four players heading out, two being Horizon League award recipients, the transfer portal is the philosophy that will keep Oakland basketball in the position it has found itself in this season.
