Derrick White is everything that is right about our state.
Late bloomer to Hall of Famer at Legend High School, first-ever All-American at University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CU star, NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist.
We don’t deserve him. But Tad Boyle does. And so does CU hoops.
Wednesday, in a packed press conference of former and current players and boosters, CU athletic director Fernando Lovo introduced White as president of basketball strategy and revealed his $2 million donation to the program.
White will continue his career as a star for the Boston Celtics. His side gig will be to serve as a phone-call-away resource. His involvement is designed to inspire fundraising that keeps the Buffs competitive with its Big 12 peers, save for Texas Tech, whose resident billionaire Cody Campbell uses $100 bills as coasters.
“Obviously, it’s not all about money, but it is a lot about money in this day and age,” said White, a nine-year NBA veteran and three-time All-NBA defender over the past four seasons. “There are not many rules and regulations around it. Itap kind of like two different games. The top of the Big 12 and where we are at. And hopefully we can trend in the right direction.”
Now, before you get too excited, you need to understand something. CU hoops does not have a big booster to match White’s donation.
Truthfully, White riding in on the white buffalo might not translate into immediate success.
But, it gives Boyle a puncher’s chance, provides context for why his record over the past two seasons is not a failure. Boyle is a tremendous teacher. He has guided CU to the NCAA tournament six times in 16 seasons, but the end of his career does not require squinting.
Boyle fought back tears in the Dal Ward Center, explaining that CU remains his “dream job.” He is the top coach in school history, and it is not particularly close.
The best ones burn hot and bright. Watch Boyle on the sideline or at the podium, and his passion defines him.
But how is he expected to survive as a developmental stop for deep-pocketed counterparts?
I told Boyle I thought he might finish his career in Division III away from the NIL madness, where he could coach without wondering which booster would suddenly turn into a human ATM.
“Nope, this is where I want to be until it ends,” said Boyle, who admitted there will be a time he hands off the program and that White will be part of that transition to select his successor.
If not a life raft, White provides hope, a reminder of what makes Boyle special, and by proxy, CU.
“This is such a great opportunity to do something meaningful,” White said.
Boyle has no problem unearthing talent. Retention is the problem. CU has lost an average of five players to the portal over the past four seasons.
The inflation costs of keeping players have become staggering. Paydays are not public, but CU star freshman Isaiah Johnson defected to Texas this offseason. The going rate for point guards in the portal was $3 million and up, per The Field of 68.
As a forward, promising Bangot Dak was in line for around $2 million when he committed to Vanderbilt in April. A few years ago CU was able to keep Tristan da Silva for five figures. c
A clank used to be a coach’s worst nightmare. Now, it’s a cha-ching.
“College athletics are a little messed up,” Boyle said.
But he is not ready to throw his hands in the air. Boyle is a fighter.
He deserves better than to go out as a farm director for Power 4 bullies.
Why? He does things the right way and makes real connections.
If you don’t believe it, consider the alums who turned out for White’s private ceremony on Tuesday night in Denver. Spencer Dinwiddie, K.J. Simpson, Cory Higgins, and Alec Burks were just some of the roughly 20 former players in attendance.
“Tad is a historic coach. He gave us a place to learn and we have careers because of him,” Dinwiddie said. “With NIL now, it’s hard. Derrick’s donation is a big help. And we have to keep navigating it the best we can.”
White’s hiring was months in the making. Three specifically. That is when CU chose Fernando Lovo to lead its athletic department. He is an expert fundraiser, and brings the type of enthusiasm for all sports — not just the flailing football program — needed to make the fan base reach for its wallet.
Lovo made meeting White a priority. In April, he and Boyle flew to Boston for a Celtics game and an Italian dinner. Over food, the conversation broadened from White helping out hoops to something with roots.
White had talked with Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum about his involvement at Duke and was aware that Steph Curry (Davidson) and Trae Young (Oklahoma) held positions in the college ranks.
As Lovo and Boyle returned to Boulder, White was sold.
It was something he wanted to do — the idea of his kids growing up around the program was appealing. He also knew he would have the help of one-time CU teammate Josh Repine, “who will handle a lot of day-to-day stuff and is someone who loves this university as much as I do.”
Former Buffs’ fingerprints were all over this new arrangement, including those on Boyle’s staff, Nate Tomlinson and Evan Battey.
What makes this commitment fascinating is White’s limited time at CU. He played one season for Boyle after sitting out a year as a transfer.
“A little bit,” said Boyle when I was asked if he was surprised by White’s willingness to step into a prominent role. “But it shows what can happen when you try to treat people the right way and coach them well.”
White, who lives with his wife and kids in Colorado in the offseason, explained that his goal growing up was to play in the Coors Events Center. He figured he missed his chance when Legend High did not reach the state playoffs held there.
“So when I got the opportunity to go to CU, it was a dream come true. Like Fernando said, we wear Colorado across our chest here. That’s who I am and, to me, it represents the entire state,” White said. “This means a lot. I want to make it great, to be the best at this. ”
Wednesday, that seemed possible in a room full of smiles and tables full of cookies and brownies. It felt like a party.
Thursday will bring a harsh reality. The challenge in recruiting and retaining players.
Regardless, CU is in a better position because White is all in.
He is not the answer to all of CU’s issues, but he opens a pathway to solutions, a chance for Boyle to finish his coaching career without being consumed by which players are leaving.
“Once we get people in this building and in this program,” White said, “we need to make them realize they can reach their dreams here.”
