Navy head coach Billy Lange enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Navy men's basketball program, taking over a program that had won just 23 games in three years prior to his arrival. Since his arrival before the 2004-05 season, Lange's teams have won 34 games and have shown a visible increase in talent level.

After an up-and-down season in 2006-07, Lange now feels he has all the tools in place to make a push towards the top of the Patriot League standings. Last year's team featured just one senior and three juniors, and despite being a relatively young team with just two seniors on the roster in 2007-08, the Mids boast an experienced lineup. It is a lineup that comes about from young talent coming gaining experience, as has been the case in his first three years. In his first 86 games at Navy, Lange has started at least one freshman in 84 of them and at least two freshmen in 52 of them.

Last year's team showed marked improvement on the defensive end, en route to a 14-16 record. The Mids ranked 45th nationally in scoring defense, was 82nd in field goal percentage defense and finished 70th in three-point field goal percentage defense. The 62.7 ppg allowed were the sixth fewest in school history and the lowest amount allowed since the 1979-80 season. Lange's team put itself in position for a home Patriot League Quarterfinal game entering the last week of the season and won the Star Game for the fifth straight year. The Mids also recorded impressive wins over Loyola (Md.), Stony Brook and William & Mary, and gave national power Villanova all it could handle two days after Thanksgiving.

In addition, Lange's offensive philosophy flourished. The Mids connected on a school-record 260 three-pointers and connected on a school-record 74.7 percent of their free throws. Navy was one of two schools nationally to have 10 players reach double-digits in three-pointers made (Southeast Missouri State was the other). Lange's wide-open attack has resulted in Navy making at least three three-pointers in 85 consecutive games and making at least 10 three-pointers 10 times last year.

Lange also helped develop senior Greg Sprink into one of the Patriot League's premier players. Sprink became just the fifth Navy player to score 1,000 career points by the end of his junior year and was a 2007 All-Patriot League second-team honoree, Navy's first All-League player since 2002. Sprink became Navy's first player to lead the Patriot League in scoring average in all games (16.9) and league games (17.2).

Lange has had a way of developing Navy's young players. Two freshmen last year (Trey Stanton and Chris Harris) earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week accolades, and Stanton was selected to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team becoming the fourth player in Lange's three years to be named to that squad.

Navy's offense was the highlight of Lange's second season, 2005-06, as the Mids led the league in scoring for the second straight year, edging Lafayette by 1.4 points per game. Navy also ranked second in free throw percentage (.722), which was good for 67th in the country. In the 2004-05 season, Navy shot just .651 from the free throw line, showing a vast improvement on the charity stripe.

Lange's 2005-06 squad featured one of the top backcourts in the Patriot League in Greg Sprink, Corey Johnson and Kaleo Kina. The trio combined to average 34.8 ppg and connected on 120 three-pointers.

Leading the way was the sophomore Sprink, who turned in the finest sophomore season since Eddie Reddick in 1988-89. Sprink averaged 14.9 ppg in all games, but saw the average bump to 15.5 in Patriot League games, ranking third in the league in scoring. He connected for over 30 points twice, setting school records for most points in a half (2nd half; 31 vs. Brown), most points off the bench (34 vs. Brown) and most three-pointers in a game (9 vs. Brown). Sprink also finished the season ranked in the top 50 nationally in free throw percentage and became just the ninth player in school history to record multiple 30-point games.

Kina earned an Patriot League All-Rookie Team accolade after ranking 15th in the league in scoring at 10.4 ppg.

Perhaps the fact that Lange is most proud of is the role his squad has taken on in the classroom. Since his arrival, team GPA has increased by nearly half a point, and sophomore Bryce Brigham was named to the 2006 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.

The 2004-05 campaign was the beginning of a new era for Navy basketball with first-year head coach Billy Lange at the helm. One that preached a commitment to the team and the restoration of a tradition that has bled Blue and Gold for many years.

With the new outlook came a new style of play, a new attitude -- an aggressive, fast-paced, in-your-face, sense of panic which was welcomed not only by the team, but by Navy's faithful fans.

Featuring one of the youngest line-ups in the country, Navy posted its second consecutive 10-18 mark, using eight freshmen and sophomores on a regular basis, including seven of them starting at least one game.

While the Mids had their share of growing pains, which included 10 losses by six points or less, by the end of January the hard work, focus and discipline paid off. Navy won five of their final 10 games, including an 82-71 victory over Colgate. Two days after defeating the Raiders, the Mids posted a 66-62 victory over Patriot League Tournament champion Bucknell, who defeated Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

A week later, 2004 senior captain Taj Mathews turned in a career-high 26-point effort and led Navy to its third-consecutive Star Game win over archrival Army, 84-69, and for Lange, a victory in his first Star Game. Mathews was 6-of-14 from behind the arc, setting the record for most three-point field goals made and attempted by a Navy player in an Army-Navy contest. Meanwhile, the Mids' 13 made three-pointers against the Black Knights is etched in the record book as the third most three-pointers made in a single game in school history.

Navy ended the season 10-18, winning five more games than the year before, and the Mids' six conference wins were the most since the 2000-01 team owned a 9-3 Patriot League mark

Navy finished 2004-05 ranked among the country's top 50 in two statistical categories -- rebound margin and steals. The Mids' +5.1 rebound margin was the 32nd best among 326 Div. I schools in the nation. Meanwhile, Navy finished No. 34 in steals per game, grabbing 8.9 per contest.

The Mids finished the 2004-05 campaign ranked No. 1 in the Patriot League in four statistical categories (overall games), including scoring offense. Navy averaged 69.7 points per game, 2.5 points more than second-place Lafayette (67.2 ppg). The Mids displayed a +13.5 scoring gain over the previous season, while averaging just under six rebounds a game more than the 2003-04 campaign.

Navy also led the league in rebounding offense (41.1), offensive rebounds (16.11) and rebounding margin (+5.1). In Patriot League competition, Navy paced the conference in rebounding offense (42.4) and offensive rebounds (17.14). Navy finished the season by setting three school records for Patriot League action -- three-point field goals made (99), three-point field goals attempted (297) and rebounds (593).

Lange helped mold Corey Johnson and Greg Sprink into Patriot League All-Rookie Team members. The duo made Academy history as Johnson and Sprink became the first tandem to score 200 points each in their plebe season.

"Coach Lange brings incredible energy and passion to the team," said David Hooper, who completed his eligibility in 2006 as one of the top three-point shooters in school history. "He really has provided an environment for success, while teaching the team about the qualities of developing character. With this he challenges each one of us to become a better man, and I respect him for that."

And despite playing with Lange for just one year, Lange's attitude and energy have rubbed off on the younger players as well.

"Coach Lange is very enthusiastic and he is instilling a winning attitude among us all," said junior Adam Teague. "Knowing that Coach Lange will be there to work us in basketball and help us in anything we need off the court helps our confidence."

"Coach Lange is the most passionate person I've ever met," added Clif Colbert. "The energy he puts into life is not only contagious, it's inspiring."

Newcomers are also very excited about the opportunity to play for Lange.

"Coach Lange has a passion that is undescribable," said guard Derek Young. "He is always energetic and gives 100% in everything that he does. He expects us to do the same."

On March 26, 2004, Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk introduced Lange as the Mids' head men's basketball coach, the 19th in the program's storied history. Lange came to Navy from Villanova where he served as a member of the Wildcats' coaching staff for the three seasons.

"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to coach at what I believe is the finest educational institution in the country. The Naval Academy possesses the best student-athletes in the nation and together we will create a positive environment that is built on teamwork and respects the tradition of the Academy and Navy Basketball," said Lange.

"The men and women of the Naval Academy are proud to welcome aboard Coach Lange and his family," said former Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Rodney P. Rempt. "Athletics play a major part of how we accomplish our mission to prepare our nations future combat leaders. Successful sports programs led by outstanding and proven coaches like Coach Lange foster decisive leadership, teamwork, character, mental toughness, a passion for winning and lifelong physical fitness. We look forward to Coach Lange's energy and contributions in leading our midshipmen to victory on the basketball court."

"To meet Coach Lange is to be immediately impressed with his energy, demeanor and enthusiasm for this important opportunity," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Everyone we talked to that has worked with him, for him, or played on his teams has the highest compliments regarding his successful professional relationships and motivating style of leadership. I strongly believe our players will enjoy playing for Coach Lange and will compete to the best of their abilities for him. He will be a wonderful role model for our midshipmen, those within the Naval Academy family and throughout the community."

While at Villanova, Lange played a vital role in the daily operation of the men's basketball program where he served as both an assistant coach and coordinator of basketball operations.

In his three years at Villanova, Lange was part of a staff which led the Wildcats to three-straight appearances in the National Invitational Tournament, including a berth in the NIT Quarterfinals win 2004.

"Billy Lange is one of the great young basketball coaches in the country," said Jay Wright, head men's basketball coach at Villanova. "He understands from his years at Kings Point and Villanova how to run an entire program. He was invaluable to us in everything we've done to try and build our program at Villanova in one of the toughest conferences in the country, the Big East. I've known him through his years as a high school coach, college assistant and college head coach and he has a tremendous understanding of the game, a great passion for the game and an outstanding ability to relate and inspire young players. Everyone at Villanova wishes Billy the best and we're all rooting for Navy."

"He is easily the most passionate and energetic coach I've ever worked with and I know that his teams will play with that same passion that he has," said Joe Jones, head basketball coach at Columbia University and former assistant at Villanova. "He's the whole package, he's energetic, knowledgeable and hard working."

At the age of 35, Lange already owns an impressive coaching resume. Appointed head coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1999, Lange led his team to a 39-19 (.672) record in two seasons, while claiming two Skyline Conference crowns and a berth in the 2001 NCAA Division III Sweet 16. Lange was named the New York Metropolitan Basketball Writers Division III Coach of the Year in 2001.

"During his time at the Merchant Marine Academy I thought he was a special coach," said Vice Admiral Joseph Stewart, Superintendent of the Merchant Marine Academy and a 1964 graduate of the Naval Academy. "He's a strong leader, has unbelievable energy, cares about people and is a winner. I was proud to be associated with him in his tenure at Kings Point, and in my view, he will do a great job at the Naval Academy."

"Honor, courage and commitment, the Navy's core values, along with integrity, character and discipline are a few of the characteristics required of a coach who represents the Naval Academy," said Nate Barton, who was the captain of Lange's Sweet 16 team at the Merchant Marine Academy. "Those words and their meanings are all what defines Coach Lange. You will not find another coach out there that cares more about his players, who is more passionate about the game of basketball and who is more capable of winning than Coach Lange."

A native of Haddon Heights, N.J., Lange played basketball at Bishop Eustace (N.J.) High School for his father, Bill Lange Sr., and at Rowan College before moving into the coaching ranks in 1995. In his first and only season as the head coach, taking over for his father who was in a life-threatening accident just one week into the season, Lange led Bishop Eustace to a 20-6 record and an appearance in the state New Jersey State Championship game.

In 1996, Lange joined the staff at Philadelphia University where he spent the next two seasons working for head coach Herb Magee. In 1998, he moved into the Division I ranks as an assistant coach at La Salle University where he helped tutor forward Rasual Butler, who is now in his third season with the Miami Heat.

Lange and his wife, Alicia, are the parents of two sons, Will, born December 15, 2003, and Matthew, born May 9, 2005.

# GO NAVY #