DePaul University Athletics
Behind the Bricks - Jim Marino
11/9/2010 12:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Nov. 9, 2010
Behind the Bricks
Our new weekly feature "Behind the Bricks" allows DePaul letterwinners a chance to tell the DePaul community a little bit about themselves, a brief reflection on their time as a Blue Demon student-athlete and where they have gone since stepping off the court, field or diamond.
This feature was renamed "Beyond the Bricks" to coincide with the dedication of the John and Dale Melbourne Herklotz Letterwinners Plaza and Champions Courtyard. With the plaza filled with 3,800 bricks representing DePaul's student-athletes since 1926, each brick has a story. "Beyond the Bricks" will allow letterwinners to tell their "DePaul Story".
Jim Marino - Men's Basketball, 1971-1974
1. What does being a DePaul Letter Winner mean to you?
Being a three-year letter winner means the "D "represents important qualities of strength, sacrifice, hard work, service, character, and being a member of a team consisting of lifelong friends. I also believe it represents the Vincentian Spirit.
2. Why did you choose DePaul?
Being from a close knit Italian (Sicilian) family I felt strong about staying home even with the many offers I was receiving. Coach Meyer came out to the house and my Mother cooked him a big Italian dinner. My parents loved Coach and the rest is history. In the end, with all the chaos in the world, it made perfect sense to stay home and I wanted to stay home. My parents being able to see me play, I feel was one of the great gifts I ever gave them.
3. What did receiving a scholarship from DePaul mean to you?
Obviously it meant a great opportunity. To be honored with a scholarship from DePaul is still one of the highlights of my life. As an 18 year old, signing a letter of intent, you're never fully aware where it will all take you. Everything happens for a reason. I have been happy with my life and DePaul has been a big part of it and being part of the DePaul family has been very special.
4. What is your funniest memory at DePaul?
It's hard to focus on just one funny memory. All the players I played with at DePaul, the different personalities from students to faculty to friends of DePaul were always very entertaining. It was always fun to be around Coach when he was not Coach. Great stories and his one liner's were equal to none. Even when Coach was angry with us, he could be pretty funny. We had to be careful not to laugh, that's why we would all grab towels and cover our face when we walked into the locker room at half time.
5. Provide a brief summary of your life from graduation to now?
After graduation, I married my wife Jean who I met here at DePaul. About a year later I joined the Chicago Police Department. I had a variety of assignments during my 33 years with CPD. I ended my career as a Lieutenant in the Deployment Operations/Counter Terrorism Section. During those 33 years with CPD, I received my MBA and my wife and I raised five children (Angela, Katie, Joseph, Elizabeth and Patrick). Katie and Joseph attended and graduated from DePaul, Angela from the United States Naval Academy, Elizabeth from St. Mary's in Minnesota, and Patrick is currently at Loras College in Iowa.
6. Is there a recent highlight that you would like to share with alumni and friends of DePaul Athletics?
I retired two years ago from the Chicago Police Department and was hired by DePaul University as Assistant Director of Emergency Management. After 33 years with CPD, I feel I landed a dream job here at DePaul. What a great place to work!
7. What advice would you give to a current or future student athletic?
For future student athletics, choose your college wisely. It could be a four-year experience or lifetime experience, stay involved with your school. Fortunately for me, DePaul has been a lifetime experience. For current student athletics, look for and seek out opportunities that will connect you to something bigger after your four years of college. Remember, whatever sport you are playing, it's just a game, use the game to prepare you for life. I never imagined when I signed the letter of intent as a senior in high school that DePaul would be a lifetime experience.
Favorite:
Travel Destination: American West and Northwest by train
Book: History based or Crime novels
Author: Dennis Banahan
Movie: Any old movie with Humphrey Bogart or Burt Lancaster
Sports Movie: Hoosier's, The Natural, League of Their Own, Field of Dreams
Quote: was a favorite of Coach Ray's:
"I like to buy you for what your worth and sell you for what you think your worth!"
"Previous "Behind the Bricks." Features:
Bob Geiger - Cross Country and Track & Field
Richard Heise, Sr. - Basketball