Dec. 9, 2009
Bronx, N.Y. -
They were once coach and player, now they're coach and assistant coach. Fordham University head men's basketball coach Jared Grasso announced today the addition of Joe DeSantis, Grasso's collegiate coach, to his staff as an assistant coach.
"I am ecstatic to add someone to our staff with the knowledge and experience of Joe DeSantis," said Grasso, who was elevated to head coach on December 3rd. "He is one of the best basketball minds I have ever been around. His experience will greatly benefit the program.'"
DeSantis brings 25 years of NCAA Division I college coaching experience to Rose Hill, most recently as the head coach at Quinnipiac University from 1996-2007, where he mentored Grasso from 1998-2002.
Instrumental in elevating the Quinnipiac men's basketball program from the Division II level to a respected Division I mid major program, DeSantis' eleven-year stint leading Quinnipiac was the second-longest tenure in program history. He is second only to legendary coach Burt Kahn, who posted a 459-358 record from 1960-91, in tenure for the Bobcats. In 2005-06, DeSantis became just the third coach in program history to reach the 100-win plateau as he led the Bobcats back to the Northeast Conference (NEC) playoffs.
In 2001-02, Grasso's senior year, Quinnipiac was one of the hottest teams in the nation down the stretch. The Bobcats won four of their final five regular-season games before making a magical run through the NEC Tournament. Quinnipiac edged host Wagner, the No. 2 seed, and third-seeded UMBC en route to a date on national television against No. 1-seeded Central Connecticut State. Despite a valiant effort, the Bobcats fell just short in their first-ever appearance on the ESPN network, a 78-71 loss to the Blue Devils.
In 1988, CBSSportsLine.com named DeSantis its NEC Coach of the Year, and the Bobcats were recognized by the New England Basketball Coaches Association as the Most Improved Division I Team.
Prior to his arrival at Quinnipiac, DeSantis served as an assistant coach at four different schools (Fairfield, Duquesne, Pittsburgh and St. John's) over a 14-year span on the Division I level, helping three of the teams to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
DeSantis was a standout player at Fairfield from 1975-79, completing his collegiate career with 1,916 points (currently second all-time) and 667 assists (also currently second). He is also the leader in the Stags' record book for career free-throw percentage (.849) and averaged 18.4 points per game as a collegian.
Following graduation, he was drafted by the Washington Bullets in the second round of the 1979 NBA Draft but opted to play in Venice, Italy, for one season. He returned to the U.S. the subsequent season, completing his professional playing career with the Maine Lumberjacks in the Continental Basketball Association.
In September 2004, DeSantis was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame for his playing contributions with the Stags.
A Bronx native, DeSantis attended Tolentine High School, a nationally renowned high school basketball powerhouse in New York City.
