Bill Herrion Biography

Bill Herrion came to East Carolina University with eight seasons under his belt as mens head basketball coach at Drexel University with a record of 167-71 (.702).

Included in his success at Drexel is a conference record of 121-32 (.791), Drexel finished first or second in conference play seven out of Herrion's eight seasons piloting the Dragons', while averaging 21 wins per season. They won three league championships and shared the regular season title twice. The Herrion led Dragons went to three consecutive postseason NCAA Tournament appearences and first ever win in the "Big Dance" finishing the 1996 season 27-4.

The first sign Herrion was going to be successful at his chosen profession was his first year as head coach at Drexel when his team was picked to finish seventh in the North Atlantic Conference preseason poll. The Dragons' confused the pundits and wound up going to the league championship game.

Following the 1996-97 season Drexel went to the postseason NIT for the first time in school history finishing the season with a 22-9 (.710) record and the Dragon's fifth Consecutive 20 game winning season.

Herrion was named conference Coach-of-the-Year four times in his tenure at Drexel. He coached the Dragons to three postseason NCAA showings and one NIT appearance.

Prior to his outstanding stint at Drexel Herrion was an assistant at George Washington University (Washingon D.C.) for one season and previously at Boston College as an assistant for five seasons.

After his second season at East Carolina when the Pirates went 14-14 (.500) East Carolina made the decision to join Conference USA a conference with national visibility on the college basketball scene.

Since stepping up to Conference USA the East Carolina Pirates have a 37-47 (.440) record, hardly what Herrion is used to. However the team has improved each of the three seasons and were within one game of playing (.500) ball in the 2003-04 season. Along the way the Pirates have knocked off some non-conference powerhouses such as recording their first ever win over a top ten team when they beat nationally ranked #9 Marquette. ECU later enjoyed their first ever win against perennial conference and national powerhouse Louisville.

It appears by all indications the Pirates are on the right track. Given the resume of Coach Herrion, the Pirates steady progress and the overall trust in the program exemplified by the fans and ECU administration it's difficult to believe they won't succeed.

Herrion graduated from Merrimack College in 1981 with a B.A. degree in History.

Herrion and his wife, Maureen, have two children, Catlin and Ryan.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Eight seasons basketball coach at Drexel University
Record of 167-71 (.702) at Drexel
Conference record of 121-32 (.791)
Drexel finished first or second in conference play seven out of Herrion's eight seasons
Dragons averaged 21 wins per season during Herrion's tenure
Won three league championships and shared the regular season title twice
Led Dragons to three consecutive postseason NCAA Tournament appearences
Guided Dragons to first ever win in the "Big Dance"
Finished the 1996 season 27-4 (.871)
Took Drexel to the postseason NIT for the first time in school history - 1997
Five consecutive 20 game winning seasons
Named conference Coach-of-the-Year four times in his tenure at Drexel
Coached the Dragons to three postseason NCAA appearances
Coached the Dragons to one postseason NIT appearance
Named conference Coach-of-the-Year four times at Drexel
Led East Carolina to their first ever win over a top ten team beating nationally ranked #9 Marquette
Coached the Pirates first ever win against perennial conference and national powerhouse Louisville
Graduated from Merrimack College with a B.A. degree in History