VandySports.com - Dan Cage named Director of Operations

July 17, 2012

Jesse W. Johnson
VandySports.com Publisher

Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings has officially promoted basketball staffer Dan Cage to the Director of Operations after serving a two-year stint as the Assistant Director of Operations.

The former Commodore standout will oversee various day-to-day duties as the new Director of Operations to the rest of the Vanderbilt staff, including scheduling, planning, programming and other administrative tasks that work directly with Stallings and the other assistants.

"I feel honored to be named Director of Basketball Operations for Vanderbilt Men's Basketball," Cage said in a release by the school on Monday. "I have a great love for the people here, this program, and most importantly, this university. I am humbled by the opportunity to learn from, and work with, such an incredible staff and I sincerely hope that my service to this group is able to help continue our wonderful tradition of success here at Vanderbilt."

Per NCAA rules, Cage will not be able to actively travel as a recruiter, though he can serve as a confidant to the other coaches recruiting efforts.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Cage was a four-year letterman for the Commodores from 2003-2007, helping Vanderbilt two a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

The skilled shooting guard averaged 5.9 points in 125 career games at VU, but his senior season in 2007 made him a household name to many Commodore fans as he averaged 11.2 points a game and shot 44.2-percent from three. Vanderbilt started off the season on shaky ground but rebounded to not only make the NCAA Tournament but be within seconds of the Elite Eight before a controversial loss to Georgetown in the East Regional.

"Dan has worked very hard for us this past season and I felt that he deserved this promotion to our Director of Basketball Operations position," said Stallings on Monday. "He is a graduate of this program and university, and connects very well with our players, both past and present, and to our staff. I have confidence that he will do an outstanding job with his expanded duties that go along with this new position."

Cage becomes the first former Commodore to serve on the elevated basketball staff since Charles Davis served as bench assistant to Jan Van Breda Kolff from 1995-1996.

The promotion of Cage would seem to indicate that veteran assistant coach Tom Richardson will alter his responsibilities. Entering his tenth year on the Commodore staff, Richardson will likely work with the Vanderbilt guards with an emphasis on the shooters and wings.

Richardson will also likely take over duties as a "road recruiter". Vanderbilt had only had two travel recruiters in the past two months, long-time assistant Brad Frederick and second-year assistant David Cason, since former assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Dan Muller accepted the head coaching position at Illinois State.

The shuffling of responsibilities will allow continuity for Stallings' staff in 2012-2013 as the Commodores look to replace its six top scorers from last year's SEC Tournament Championship squad, including NBA Draft picks John Jenkins, Festus Ezeli and Jeffery Taylor.

Vanderbilt does return seven lettermen from last year's team including rising junior Rod Odom and sophomores Kedren Johnson and Dai-Jon Parker.

The Commodores signed three prospects for the 2012 recruiting period including Rivals150 forward Sheldon Jeter. Fellow signee Kevin Bright is currently playing for the German U-20 National team in the European Championships.

Vanderbilt also received a transfer from University of Tulsa point guard Eric McClellan, but the rising sophomore will be forced to sit out the upcoming season due to NCAA transfer rules.

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