UIC basketball coach promotes 3 assistants
UIC head men’s basketball coach Howard Moore announced three promotions on his coaching staff Thursday. Former assistant Al Biancalana was named associate head coach, while Drew Slempkes was tabbed director of basketball operations and Jeremy Buttell was named coordinator of basketball and video Operations.
“When I took over the UIC program last August, one of the primary challenges was forming a solid coaching staff that would help during the transition,” said Moore. “The group of guys we assembled has far surpassed my expectations. For their hard work and dedication to the program, they have all earned these promotions.”
Biancalana, who was also on the same coaching staff as Moore during their time together at Bradley (2000-03), served as Moore’s top assistant coach last season, and was instrumental in orchestrating UIC’s offensive system. He also worked directly with the post players, which helped the Flames lead the Horizon League in offensive rebounding.
“I can’t say enough good things about the job that Al Biancalana has done since coming on board,” Moore said. “He is a tireless worker, and has a great basketball mind.”
Slempkes served as UIC’s director of student-athlete development last season. In that role, he was the liaison between the men’s basketball program and UIC’s academic staff, organized community service projects and development and served as the lead video coordinator.
As the director of basketball operations, Slempkes’ responsibilities will include team travel and budgeting, fundraising, organizing team clinics and camps and overseeing the program’s student managers. He will also maintain his community service development and academic duties.
Buttell, who played in 88 games and scored nearly 600 points during his playing career with the Flames (2007-10), served as the program’s administrative assistant last season. As the coordinator and video operations, Buttell will take over all video coordinating duties, and assist Slempkes with team operations. He will also serve as the assistant to Howard Moore.