Copyright IUPUI

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A former St. Clairsville High and West Liberty University two-sport standout has joined Ben Howlett as an assistant coach at the University of Indianapolis men’s basketball program.

Dan Monteroso, who starred in football and basketball at both aforementioned institutions, started his new job in June after playing seven years of professional basketball in Germany.

Monteroso has known Howlett for quite some time. In fact, he played for Howlett when the latter took over for Jim Crutchfield on the W.Va. 88 hilltop. Monteroso attended Purdue University on a football scholarship. He played three seasons for the Boilermakers.

“When I transferred from Purdue to West Liberty, Coach Crutchfield was in his last year. Then Ben took over for my second,” Monteroso said Wednesday outside his high school alma mater. “When Ben was the assistant (coach) my first year, I spent a lot of time in his office just because all my classes were online, so it was easy for me to get my work in and hang out with him in his office.

“When Ben took the job after Coach Crutchfield went to Nova Southeastern, he asked if I would stay and play for him,” Monteroso said. “I said of course I would and that’s kind of how our relationship has gone.

“We talk everyday, so it kind of keeps growing.”

Monteroso earned first team All-American honors in Howlett’s first season as head coach in 2018, while also being named NCAA Division II Academic All-American of the Year that season. He was a two-time Academic All-American and two-time MEC Scholar Athlete of the Year, tallying 1,134 points in just two seasons at West Liberty.

Was he surprised when he heard that Howlett had left West Liberty after several ultra-successful seasons?

“No. I think being the competitor he is, he wants to see how far he can go as a coach,” Monteroso said. “Obviously, West Liberty is a great program and Ben continued the tradition that Coach Crutchfield had built. Mike (Lamberti) will do a great job there.

“It’s unbelievable the coaching tree that Coach Crutchfield has developed,” Monteroso added.

Was he surprised to get a call from Howlett?

“Yes and no. I’m very thankful for him. When he called me it was a no-brainer,” he stressed. “Realistically, I don’t even think he asked me to join his staff, it was like ‘we need to start working’ and we’ve been working since.”

He admits that his new life as an NCAA Division I assistant basketball coach has yet to sink in. “No. Not yet. It feels like ‘imposter syndrome,'” Monteroso said of his new job. “While I was recruiting last weekend, it was amazing to see what some of these coaches have done. It’s motivation for me, however, because I want some young guy to look at me like that one day.

“It’s pretty cool, but I don’t get wrapped up in the title too much,” he continued. “I just put my head down, go to work and see where the career takes me.”

Is this the beginning of a career?

“When you get into this profession, that’s everyone’s ultimate goal,” he answered. “I’ll look at that down the road. Right now I’m just focused on learning. I joke with Coach Howlett all the time. I’ll tell him ‘You lead and I’ll follow.’

“He was a really good coach and I loved playing for him, but just being around him this last month I’ve already learned a ton. Same thing for (a former WLU assistant coach) Connor (Harr). He’s younger than I am but he’s been coaching longer than I have. I love learning from him because he looks at the game a lot differently than some other guys.

“There’s so much to learn and I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m where I want to be and I am excited for the season to begin.”

Monteroso began his collegiate career with the Purdue football program, earning his degree in three seasons with the Boilermakers. He transferred to West Liberty with two seasons of basketball eligibility, helping the Hilltoppers to a 54-8 record. In his one season of football at West Liberty, he racked up 57 receptions for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns.

“I learned how Big 10 schools operate and function,” he said of his time in West Lafayette, Ind.. “I was lucky to meet some of my best friends in the world. I actually just bought a house close to one of my best friends in college. I’m very thankful for my time at Purdue even though my career didn’t work out like I had wanted, but I learned a ton about life.”

Monteroso then spent his entire professional playing career in Germany, playing for Ehingen Urspring (2018-20), Gladiators Trier (2020-23) and Nurnberg Falcons BC (2023-24), including averaging 14.3 points per game during the 2022-23 campaign.

When asked about thanking those who have helped him reach where he is today, he didn’t hesitate.

“From a coaching aspect, I want to thank Coach Howlett for giving me a shot here at UIndy and for giving me the shot to play at West Liberty,” he praised. “He could’ve said you’ve been out of the game for three years and we don’t want you, but he didn’t.

“From a family standpoint, I want to thank my wife, Brooke (Cenkus) for having two kids in a foreign country. Both of our children were born in Germany, so it’s been a journey for her,” he added. “She’s one of the best mothers I’ve ever known. I always joke with her and my mom that they are fighting to be the No. 1 mom. My wife does a lot for the family and she holds us together. Raising two kids in Europe without much help wasn’t easy, yet she did an excellent job.”

The couple has a daughter, Mae, who will be 3 in August and a son, Louis, who is three months old.

“I also want to thank my parents (Jeff and Catherine) brother (Mike) and sister (Claire). They are awesome,” he noted. “I’ve watched my dad be an assistant coach all of his life. I’ve had two goals in my entire life. I wanted to be a professional athlete and I wanted to be a college basketball coach. I can’t complain. I’ve been pretty blessed and lucky.”