DePaul University Athletics
Lampley Moving On to Follow His Life's Passion
5/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS
CHICAGO - DePaul will be saying farewell on Tuesday when a notable member of its athletics department will be moving on with his career.
Lemone Lampley, who played for the Blue Demons from 1982-86, is leaving his position in Athletics Development to devote his time to the MOCCHA Foundation (Men of Color Connected for Higher Achievement). The organization is currently focused on helping inner-city kids from the North Lawndale and Bronzeville communities.
The 6-foot, 11-inch Lampley finished his career as the fourth-best shot blocker in school history and is currently 10th all-time. After graduating in 1986, Lampley was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the second round of the 1986 NBA draft, the 38th pick overall.
"When there wasn't guaranteed money, I opted to play overseas for guaranteed money," Lampley said. "I played five years in Italy, three years in Spain and half a season in Greece. I ended my career at the age of 30.
"It was hard to retire because I could have played for a few more years. But because of my religious beliefs, it was like God was calling me away from playing competitive sports."
He began working at DePaul in September of 2005 focusing on major fundraising, although the job has evolved over the years.
Lampley became the primary connection to former Blue Demon basketball players who went on to NBA careers including Tyrone Corbin, Kenny Patterson, Dallas Comegys, Quentin Richardson, Bobby Simmons and Steven Hunter.
"Being a former player, I could help bridge the gap with guys who had moved on and get them back to DePaul," Lampley said. "Having been a player was an important piece, especially with guys I had played with like Marty Embry, Kevin Holmes, Tony Jackson, Rod Strickland, Terence Greene, Stanley Brundy, Corbin, Patterson and Comegys. I was the connection to bring them home.
"Sure, fundraising wasn't always an easy topic to bring up. But I'd talk to them about my positive experiences here and update them on what's happening with the men's basketball program. Like me, some of them had been detached. I was an example of a former Blue Demon who had come back, and it was encouraging for them and for me."
Lampley had gone through his own post-DePaul experiences about reconnecting with his alma mater after graduating in 1986.
"Once you leave school and go on with your life, family matters and other issues come up that make it difficult to get back," Lampley said. "I tried opening the door and easing the burden of coming back.
"Sometimes, guys leave here bitter because they didn't get enough playing time or didn't get along with the coaching staff. I would tell them lots of things have changed since they were here and that DePaul is now all about reaching out to former players."
That was the mandate of athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto who has been deeply involved with Blue Demon athletics since her days as a standout four-sport, student-athlete in the mid-1970s.
"Jeanne is the reason I'm here, and the reason a lot of former players are finding their way back to DePaul," Lampley said. "She was like a mother figure to a lot of guys and had a great rapport. She would be the buffer for any issues with coaches, classes or their lives at DePaul.
"Under her leadership, former players like myself, David Booth, Dave Corzine, Kevin Edwards, Tommy Kleinschmidt, Jim Mitchem and Terry Davis have all worked in some capacity at DePaul."
A smile came over Lampley's face as he reminisced about his time in Lincoln Park. He still remembers vividly facing a talented Georgetown team led by 7-foot Patrick Ewing as a sophomore at the Rosemont Horizon.
"I hadn't played much because of foul trouble," Lampley recalled. "Coach Ray Meyer put me back in with about eight minutes left. I had four key blocked shots and hit a nice jumper. When I blocked a shot by Ewing, the arena went crazy. We ended up winning 63-61.
"My senior year we were only 13-10, and we told coach Joey Meyer we did not want to play in the NIT. But with five games left, sports information director Ray Stallone got word that we could still make the NCAA tournament with a strong finish.
"That gave us all kinds of motivation, as we won three of the last five to squeak in as an independent team. Our last game was at home against Marquette which was also on the bubble. We won and they didn't make it.
"We beat Virginia in the tournament opener and followed up with a win over Oklahoma in the second round. We made it to the Sweet 16 where we lost to Duke. The four seniors---me, Kevin Holmes, Marty Embry and Tony Jackson---turned a disappointing season into a great finish."
Now, he would like to generate the same kind of success at MOCCHA.
"We work with African-American youngsters 10-16 years old, mentoring and educating them with resolutions and alternatives to the violence, shootings and the killings plaguing our city," Lampley said. "We offer after-school programs, trips, sports activities and other culturally impactful events while imploring them simultaneously to strive for academic excellence. We'll bring our kids to women's basketball Field Trip Day events and introduce them to the possibilities of college.
"There are tours of the top financial corporations such as a recent one to Ariel Investments where they met chairman and CEO John Rogers. He is a good friend of President Barack Obama, and the transition from senator to president began in Ariel's offices."
Lampley will strive to lead MOCCHA in the same inspirational style that Ponsetto has headed up DePaul.
"Jeanne has been a wonderful mentor to me," Lampley said. "I recalled during my exit interview a story she told me about having an opportunity after graduated to work at a higher-paying job, but chose to follow her passion and work at DePaul.
"The last four years she's battled cancer with such composure and shown everyone how strong she is during the greatest fight of her life. I have a lot of admiration for her.
She followed her passion, and as I'm finishing up my graduate degree, I'm going to follow mine. At the age of 52, the time has come to devote all my time and energy to my foundation, MOCCHA."
As he moves forward, Lampley realizes what he is leaving behind.
"What I'll miss about DePaul is the family environment," he said. "All of my kids have grown up around DePaul, and my oldest Tatiana graduated from the school last year with a degree in finance.
"I'll miss the good times here and interacting with the student-athletes. I had a great rapport with Doug Bruno and traveled with the women's basketball team the last 10 years during the NCAA tournament. I'm going to miss coach Bruno."
Lampley said he will certainly remain quite visible in the DePaul community during the coming years.
"I'm leaving on good terms, and I will miss all the wonderful people at the Athletic Center," he said. "I told Jeanne that if she ever needs me for anything, I'll be back. I'll be coming to men's and women's basketball games and I'm buying season tickets.
"No matter where life takes me, my heart will always be with DePaul."
