Darren Hertz is assistant to the head coach for men’s basketball and a Jewish Gator. A Miami native and UF alum, Hertz has been the assistant to the head coach for two years. In this position, he organizes the Gators underclassman recruiting and holds various administrative duties. He is also the summer camp director for the Billy Donovan basketball camps.

How is your Judaism a part of your job as UF Assistant to the Head Coach for basketball?
I can’t really say it’s a part of my job, but because there is myself and Coach (Larry) Shyatt on staff, it has led to many interesting religious discussions amongst our entire staff.

What is your favorite thing about the community at UF, specifically the Jewish community?
I was married last August at Hillel on UF’s campus. The new Hillel was built just a couple years ago and was a perfect place for a wedding. I think it was the first wedding ever there! Obviously that is a special thing that will be with me the rest of my life.

What was it like to be in Atlanta on Monday April 2 for the championship game, which also coincided with the first night of Passover?
It was actually pretty special because my brother, his wife and child live in Atlanta and my parents were there as well. My mother had a seder planned for Monday night in case we lost on Saturday to UCLA. Fortunately, the seder had to be pushed back to Tuesday night!

Why is your Judaism important to you?
Judaism has always been an important part of my life. I spent an enormous amount of time at my temple growing up… everything from Sunday School to the basketball league they had there. My grandfather was extremely religious and taught me the importance of my heritage and what it meant to be Jewish. It is important to me and my wife to someday have children and raise them in a wonderful Jewish home just like our parents did for us.

Who would win in a one-on-one basketball game: Joakim Noah or Moses?
There’s not many people I would pick to beat Joakim, but I can’t bet against Moses!