ALBANY, N.Y. – The University at Albany men's basketball team has announced that Marcus Filien, a 6-7 forward from Rensselaer, N.Y., will join the Great Danes in 2023-24. Filien transfers to UAlbany after spending the previous four years at Cornell.   
 
Last season, Filien was elected the team captain for Cornell. The big man averaged 2.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 0.6 steals while playing 13.8 minutes per contest. He saw the court in all 28 games the Big Red played, making one start on senior day. He scored a season-high nine points against Yale in January and played a season-high 24 minutes against Penn on the road in February. Filien played three seasons for the Big Red dating back to the 2019-20 season. Cornell's 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"I am very excited to come back home and join the UAlbany community," said Filien. "I chose UAlbany both for its outstanding graduate programs, as well as the opportunity to compete for a driven, intelligent and highly skilled coaching staff. It means everything to be able to play for the hometown team."
 
Marcus' dad, Pat, was well known around UAlbany and the Capital Region. A native of Queens, N.Y., Filien was a two-year starter down the road at the College of Saint Rose, where he received a B.A. in public communication in 1993. After his playing career concluded, he joined the coaching ranks where he eventually served as an assistant coach on the UAlbany sidelines from 2005-11, aiding the Great Danes to two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. After leaving UAlbany, Filien returned to the Capital Region to serve as the Athletic Director and head men's basketball coach at Bryant & Stratton's campus in Albany. He passed away in February of 2001 at the young age of 51.
 
"When I first coached in the America East during my time at Boston University, I truly admired Coach Filien," said Head Coach Dwayne Killings. "Upon our arrival to Albany, one of the first calls I ever made was to his family to get to know the community. To be able to Coach Marcus in his final year of eligibility means a lot."
 
"Since watching my father roam the sidelines for the Purple and Gold, winning two America East titles and making two NCAA Tournament appearances, it's been a dream to play here," added Filien. "With all of the passionate support the Capital Region gives this program, I can't wait to start our chase to hang another banner!"
 
Before committing to Cornell, Filien averaged 14.0 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 58 percent from the floor as a senior at Albany Academy, helping guide the team to the state federation final. He was named Sixth-Team All-State and was selected to the Times Union All-Star Team as a senior captain, also earning a spot on the News Channel 13 High School All-Star Team in his final campaign.
 
"Our goal is to help him grow as a student, athlete, and prepare him for success as a future business leader in the Capital Region," added Killings. "We hope to continue to expand on our relationships with the business community within the area to help not just Marcus, but all of our players as we work to keep these talented young leaders within our community."
 
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