DePaul University Athletics
DePaul Announces Retirement of Rod Strickland's Jersey
11/26/2025 10:00:00 AM | MEN'S BASKETBALL
Two-time All-American becomes fifth jersey retired at DePaul
CHICAGO – One of the most recognizable names in program history, DePaul legend Rod Strickland will officially have his jersey retired in the rafters of Wintrust Arena.
Strickland was surprised with the news Tuesday morning as he came by to watch the DePaul men's basketball team practice. His jersey will join Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Dave Corzine and George Mikan as DePaul's retired jerseys in the rafters of Wintrust Arena. National Players of the Year remain the only retired numbers in program history (No. 24, Mark Aguirre and No. 99, George Mikan). The official jersey retirement date will be announced at a later time.
A top 10 high school recruit from The Bronx, Strickland came to DePaul in the fall of 1985 with a star-studded freshman class that included Terence Greene and Stanley Brundy. He cemented himself among the all-time greats in Lincoln Park in just three seasons, leading DePaul to three NCAA tournaments and back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances. As a junior, Strickland averaged 20.0 points and 7.8 assists to earn All-American honors. He remains among many career stat leaders at DePaul, despite just playing three years, including career assists, career steals, career field goal percentage and career three-point percentage. Strickland is one of just three players all time at DePaul to lead the Blue Demons in assists in three-straight seasons.
Strickland entered the NBA Draft after the 1987-88 season, where he was selected 19th overall by the New York Knicks. He went on to have a 17-year career in the league, accumulating 14,463 points, 7,987 assists and 4,084 rebounds. Strickland was the 1998 NBA assists leader, earning All-NBA Second Team accolades in addition to his 1989 NBA All-Rookie honors.
After retiring from his playing career in 2005, Strickland entered coaching where he entered the coaching space as director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis. He went on to serve on John Calipari's staff at the University of Kentucky where he crossed paths with DePaul Vice President Director of Athletics, DeWayne Peevy. Strickland was an assistant coach the University of South Florida for three seasons before being hired as the head coach at Long Island in 2022 where he is currently in his fourth season at the helm of the program. Under his guidance, the Sharks finished second in the Northeast Conference last season with 17 wins, the most for the program since 2017-18.
Strickland was inducted to the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1987 & 1988 All-American
Three-straight NCAA Tournament Appearances (1986, 87, 88)
Back-to-back Sweet Sixteens (1986, 87)
One of three players in school history to lead the team in assists in three-straight seasons.
Holds the DePaul single-season assists per game record with a 7.8 average in 1987-88
Ranks second all-time at DePaul with 204 career steals
Ranks second all-time at DePaul in single-season assists with 202 in 1987-88
Ranks third all-time at DePaul with 557 career assists
Ranks third all-time at DePaul with 45.6 career three-point percentage
Ranks third all-time in DePaul single-game steals, notching eight against UTSA on Feb. 23, 1987
Ranks fifth all-time at DePaul in single-season assists with 196 in 1986-87
*Is the only DePaul player with two top-five single-season assist marks
Had a career 53.4 field goal percentage, ranking 10th all-time at DePaul
Ranks eighth all-time with a single-season 58.2 field goal percentage in 1986-87
Ranks 10th all-time at DePaul with a career scoring average of 16.6
Ranks 10th all-time with a single-season 44.4 three-point field goal percentage in 1987-88
Had 13 assists vs. Wichita State on March 17, 1988 – a number that ranks as the sixth most in program history in a single-game and the second most in an NCAA Tournament game.
Played in 8 NCAA Tournament games in his career, averaging 16.3 points per game.
Strickland was surprised with the news Tuesday morning as he came by to watch the DePaul men's basketball team practice. His jersey will join Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Dave Corzine and George Mikan as DePaul's retired jerseys in the rafters of Wintrust Arena. National Players of the Year remain the only retired numbers in program history (No. 24, Mark Aguirre and No. 99, George Mikan). The official jersey retirement date will be announced at a later time.
A top 10 high school recruit from The Bronx, Strickland came to DePaul in the fall of 1985 with a star-studded freshman class that included Terence Greene and Stanley Brundy. He cemented himself among the all-time greats in Lincoln Park in just three seasons, leading DePaul to three NCAA tournaments and back-to-back Sweet Sixteen appearances. As a junior, Strickland averaged 20.0 points and 7.8 assists to earn All-American honors. He remains among many career stat leaders at DePaul, despite just playing three years, including career assists, career steals, career field goal percentage and career three-point percentage. Strickland is one of just three players all time at DePaul to lead the Blue Demons in assists in three-straight seasons.
Strickland entered the NBA Draft after the 1987-88 season, where he was selected 19th overall by the New York Knicks. He went on to have a 17-year career in the league, accumulating 14,463 points, 7,987 assists and 4,084 rebounds. Strickland was the 1998 NBA assists leader, earning All-NBA Second Team accolades in addition to his 1989 NBA All-Rookie honors.
After retiring from his playing career in 2005, Strickland entered coaching where he entered the coaching space as director of basketball operations at the University of Memphis. He went on to serve on John Calipari's staff at the University of Kentucky where he crossed paths with DePaul Vice President Director of Athletics, DeWayne Peevy. Strickland was an assistant coach the University of South Florida for three seasons before being hired as the head coach at Long Island in 2022 where he is currently in his fourth season at the helm of the program. Under his guidance, the Sharks finished second in the Northeast Conference last season with 17 wins, the most for the program since 2017-18.
Strickland was inducted to the DePaul Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006 and the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
1987 & 1988 All-American
Three-straight NCAA Tournament Appearances (1986, 87, 88)
Back-to-back Sweet Sixteens (1986, 87)
One of three players in school history to lead the team in assists in three-straight seasons.
Holds the DePaul single-season assists per game record with a 7.8 average in 1987-88
Ranks second all-time at DePaul with 204 career steals
Ranks second all-time at DePaul in single-season assists with 202 in 1987-88
Ranks third all-time at DePaul with 557 career assists
Ranks third all-time at DePaul with 45.6 career three-point percentage
Ranks third all-time in DePaul single-game steals, notching eight against UTSA on Feb. 23, 1987
Ranks fifth all-time at DePaul in single-season assists with 196 in 1986-87
*Is the only DePaul player with two top-five single-season assist marks
Had a career 53.4 field goal percentage, ranking 10th all-time at DePaul
Ranks eighth all-time with a single-season 58.2 field goal percentage in 1986-87
Ranks 10th all-time at DePaul with a career scoring average of 16.6
Ranks 10th all-time with a single-season 44.4 three-point field goal percentage in 1987-88
Had 13 assists vs. Wichita State on March 17, 1988 – a number that ranks as the sixth most in program history in a single-game and the second most in an NCAA Tournament game.
Played in 8 NCAA Tournament games in his career, averaging 16.3 points per game.
Episode 30: Chris Holtmann
Tuesday, November 25
DePaul Men's Basketball vs. Detroit Mercy Highlights
Monday, November 24
DePaul Men's Basketball vs Detroit Mercy Postgame Press Conference
Monday, November 24
DePaul Men's Basketball vs Garder Webb Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, November 19