ODU Great Dave Twardzik to Join Men's Basketball Broadcasting Team
Old Dominion University Sports Properties director of broadcasting Ted Alexander announced Wednesday that ODU basketball great Dave Twardzik will join the Monarchs radio broadcasting team. Twardzik will be a contributor to the "Monarch Courtside" pregame show at home games and provide the color commentary for all road games.
"I am excited about coming back to the Hampton Roads area, where it all started for me some 45 years ago, and being involved with ODU again," said Twardzik. "I am looking forward to joining the Monarch broadcast team. I guess you could say things have come full circle."
Former Monarch standout Billy Mann will serve as color analyst for all home games and Rick Kiefner will host the "Monarch Courtside" show at home games.
"We are so pleased to add ODU Hall of Famer David Twardzik to our radio broadcast. Few schools in the country will be able to boast of such a talented and experienced basketball analyst such as Dave," said ODU athletic director Wood Selig. "He is one of a handful of ODU greats to have his jersey retired and hanging in the rafters of the Ted, and enjoyed an illustrious NBA playing and administrative career.
"He has served as color analyst for the Portland Trailblazers, so he will be able to bring tremendous credibility and insight for our listening audience. We are very fortunate to have a man of such talent and passion for our program return to ODU and Hampton Roads."
Twardzik became ODU's initial first-team All-America basketball player after leading the Monarchs to runner-up honors in the 1971 NCAA Division II national championships.
Twardzik led the Monarchs to 56 victories in three years before going on to spark the Portland Trailblazers to the 1976-77 NBA championship. The 6-1 guard enjoyed a successful professional basketball career with the American Basketball Association's Virginia Squires, where he was an ABA All-Star in 1975. His No. 13 jersey was retired by the Trail Blazers.
After his retirement from playing, Twardzik began an NBA coaching and front office career with Portland, Indiana, Detroit, Charlotte, the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State and Denver. In 2003, he became director of player personnel for the Orlando Magic and was promoted to assistant general manager in 2005, a position he held until 2012.
The former Monarch captain, whose No. 14 was retired in 1972, passed out 880 career assists and scored 1,660 points while triggering the Monarchs' fast break attack. He also established a career record by making 548 free throws in 686 attempts.
Twardzik is a member of the ODU Sports Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.