2000-01 in Review: For the first time in 17 years, Dean Demopoulos spent the 2000-01 season as a head coach. Demopolous took a University of Missouri-Kansas City team that had just three seniors and lead them to a 14-16 record, with a solid 9-7 finish in conference. Demopoulos installed the zone defense he was so familiar with and the Kangaroos held opponents to 60.5 points per game. All in all, it was a successful debut as a Division 1A basketball coach for Demopoulos.

Previous Career: After graduating from West Chester University in Philadelphia, Demopoulos began coaching high school basketball at Kennett High School in 1977. Six years later, he joined the staff at Temple University under head coach John Chaney as an assistant. During his 17 years at Temple, Demopoulos became the Owls' top assistant and recruiter. In his tenure, he oversaw the recruiting and development of current NBA players like Duane Causwell, Eddie Jones, Marc Jackson, Aaron McKie, and Pepe Sanchez.

Overall: News reports detailing Demopoulos' hiring by the Sonics as an assistant coach on June 1 summarized him as a 'zone coach' or a 'defensive coach'. This description is not only untrue, but also unfair to Demopoulos. While there is no denying that his experience with the zone is what made him an attractive commodity to the Sonics after the NBA's rules changes legalized such a defense, these labels paint a picture of Demopoulos as a one-dimensional coach, which is far from the truth. His developmental experience will also be an asset to the Sonics' staff, especially given the team's preponderance of young players. Expect Demopoulos to be a solid assistant coach in the NBA for many years to come.
Grade: B-