Excitement was in the air Wednesday as Dan DeRose was introduced as Chowan University’s new Men’s Basketball Coach.

DeRose, who has a successful coaching background, is an energetic man who wants to turn the Hawks into a powerhouse inside the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

His resume suggests he can do it.

DeRose won six conference titles in six years at the helm of the Community College of Beaver County (Pennsylvania). He was awarded 15 coaching honors during that time and was named Coach of the Year on numerous occasions.

What happens next is anyone’s guess. Every college or university that hired a basketball coach in the last few weeks believe they have hit on the one who will make them better.

Some will. Some won’t.

The success of DeRose, however, will be more directly linked to his support in the community than most. If the Roanoke-Chowan community embraces him, it will be much easier for him to be a success at Chowan.

We hope the community will offer him support, help and encouragement as he makes the move to Chowan.

DeRose obviously knows how to coach. His ability to recruit has also been proven. Now he gets to do both in a conference that is known nationwide as one of the best NCAA Division II basketball conferences in the state.

We think he will be successful. We want him to be successful.

Good luck, Coach DeRose!