Former West Liberty All-American Dan Monteroso has joined Coach Ben Howlett’s coaching staff for the 2023-24 season as a part-time assistant coach.
Monteroso played only two seasons of basketball on the hilltop after beginning his collegiate career as a Big Ten wide receiver with the Purdue football team but it didn’t take long for the St. Clairsville, Ohio native to make his mark at West Liberty.
The silky-smooth southpaw poured in 1,134 points in those two years on the WLU hardwood, leading the nation’s highest-scoring team in scoring while reeling in boatloads of post-season awards for his athletic and academic accomplishments.
Not only did he earn first-team All-MEC and NCAA Division II All-Atlantic Region honors during his debut campaign on the hilltop, Monteroso was chosen as one of only five NCAA Division II Academic All-America first-team selections out of more than 300 NCAA Division II men’s basketball programs but the talented scorer saved the best for last the following year.
That’s when he was chosen as the 2018 NCAA Division II National Academic All-American of the Year for men’s basketball after leading West Liberty to a 26-4 season capped by another MEC championship and a ninth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament bid. In addition, he once again earned All-MEC and All-Region honors along with being named to the Basketball Times’ NCAA Division II All-America Team
Monteroso averaged 20.2 ppg. while hitting double-figures in every game for the Black and Gold that year. He had 14 games of 20 or more points, two 30+ point games and knocked down a season-high 40 points in an MEC Tournament quarterfinal rout of West Virginia State. Monteroso even set an MEC Tournament record by going 18-of-19 from the foul line in that win against the Yellow Jackets.
The West Liberty roots run deep in the Monteroso family. Dan’s mother, Dr. Cathy Monteroso, has held multiple positions in the university administration and is currently serving as interim provost. His father, Jeff Monteroso, is the long-time defensive coordinator for the West Liberty football team. Dan and his wife, Brooke, are the proud parents of a daughter named May.
