Jerry DeGregorio

Gennaro L. "Jerry" DeGregorio (born February 20, 1962) is an American basketball coach. He was the former head basketball coach of the University of Rhode Island, where he coached the Rams from 1999 to 2001.

Jerry DeGregorio

DeGregorio in March 2013
Personal information
Born	(1962-02-20) February 20, 1962 New Britain, Connecticut
Nationality	American
Career information
High school	St. Thomas Aquinas (New Britain, Connecticut)
College	St. John's
Coaching career	1985–present
Career history
As coach:
1985–1988	Hofstra (assistant)
1988–1990	St. Thomas Aquinas College (assistant)
1990–1991	Mattatuck CC (assistant)
1991–1992	Mattatuck CC
1993–1997	St. Thomas Aquinas HS
1997–1999	Rhode Island (assistant)
1999–2001	Rhode Island
2001–2003	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2004–2005	Fayetteville Patriots (assistant)
2011–2014	Golden State Warriors (assistant)

Early life and education

Born in New Britain, Connecticut, DeGregorio grew up in the Little Italy section of The Bronx, New York.[1] DeGregorio earned a B.A. from St. John's University of New York City in 1988 and took master's-level classes at Hofstra University and Wesleyan University.[1][2]

Career

DeGregorio began his coaching career in 1985 as an assistant coach for Hofstra University. In 1988, DeGregorio became an assistant coach for St. Thomas Aquinas College.[1] After taking a year off to attend a Hofstra University graduate program, DeGregorio became an assistant coach for Mattatuck Community College in 1990 and then head coach for the college in the 1991–92 season. From 1993 to 1997, DeGregorio was head boys' basketball coach and athletic director at St. Thomas Aquinas High School of New Britain, Connecticut.[1] Although he never played a game for the Saints, future NBA player Lamar Odom attended Aquinas.[3] It was widely believed that DeGregorio recruited Odom not to play basketball, but to ensure that he could receive a high school diploma.

He moved to Rhode Island in 1997 as top assistant to Jim Harrick, shortly after Lamar Odom transferred from UNLV. Harrick abruptly left for Georgia after the 1998-99 season, and DeGregorio was named head coach. Just days later, however, Odom announced he was entering the 1999 NBA Draft. In rapid succession, four prospective recruits dropped URI from their lists, another was ruled ineligible, and a key reserve was lost to academics.[4] With a decimated roster, DeGregorio's first team struggled to a 5-25 record, worst in school history.

DeGregorio's second season was little better, at 7-23, but DeGregorio resigned after the season. In 2001, the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA hired DeGregorio as an assistant coach and director of player development.[5] DeGregorio served in that position until 2003, when he began working as an independent skill development coach for many star NBA players.[6] In 2004, the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA Development League hired DeGregorio as assistant coach.[7] He joined the Golden State Warriors in 2011 as an assistant coach.[8]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Rhode Island Rams (Atlantic 10 Conference) (1999–2001)
1999–00	Rhode Island	5–25	2–14	6th (East)
2000–01	Rhode Island	7–23	3–13	T–10th
Rhode Island:		12–48	5–27
Total:		12–48

References

1. "Jerry DeGregorio". Rhode Island Rams. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
2. "Jerry DeGregorio". NBA Development League. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
3. Simmons, Rusty (April 13, 2012). "Warriors assistant was Lamar Odom's best man". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
4. Perry, Michael. Rams awful without Odom. Cincinnati Enquirer, 2000-01-09.
5. "Clippers hire Jerry DeGregorio". Associated Press. October 1, 2001. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
6. "Jerry DeGregorio". NBA. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
7. http://articles.courant.com/2004-10-21/sports/0410210169_1_squad-practice-injured
8. http://www.nba.com/warriors/assistant_coaches_hired_080411.html