Joe DeSantis

Joe DeSantis (born September 24, 1957) is the color commentator for the radio and TV broadcasts of Fairfield Stags men's basketball and is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.[1] He was the second longest tenured head men's basketball coach at Quinnipiac University.[2]

For the actor, see Joe De Santis.
Joe DeSantis
Biographical details
Born (1957-09-24) September 24, 1957
The Bronx, New York
Playing career
1975–1979Fairfield
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1988Fairfield (assistant)
1989–1992Duquesne (assistant)
1992–1994Pittsburgh (assistant)
1995–1996St. John's (assistant)
1996–2007Quinnipiac
Head coaching record
Overall118-188

DeSantis is best remembered as "Joey D" and his role in leading the 1978 Fairfield Stags men's basketball team to a program best 22-5 overall record, a victory over the then #14 nationally ranked Holy Cross Crusaders, and a berth in the National Invitational Tournament.

Coaching career

DeSantis was the fifth head coach of the Quinnipiac University men's basketball team. During his 11 seasons coaching the Bobcats, DeSantis guided the program through the transition from Division II to Division I while compiling an overall 118-188 record. In 2001–02, despite being a #7 seed, the Bobcats reached the Northeast Conference (NEC) championship game in its first-ever NEC postseason appearance. In 1999–2000, DeSantis was named NEC Coach of the Year by CBSSportsLine.com after guiding the Bobcats to an 18-10 mark, their first winning season since 1992–93 and their most wins since 1987–88.[3]

DeSantis also served as an assistant at his alma mater, Fairfield University, for seven years (1981–88) during which the Stags twice won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and qualified for the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

DeSantis now runs the DeSantis Basketball Academy.[4] He has four children, his favorite being his youngest daughter Michelle.

Collegiate career

DeSantis attended Fairfield University, where he was an AP All-American Honorable Mention in 1979, First Team All New England in 1978–79 and UPJ First Team All New England in 1979. DeSantis holds the Stags records for most field goals (727) and lifetime free throw percentage (.849, 462-544) and ranks second for career points (1,916) and career assists (622). DeSantis also set the Stags' single season free throw percentage record of .892 during the 1976–77 season which ranked fifth in the nation.[5]

DeSantis was elected to Fairfield University Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1985[6] and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 for his playing contributions with the Stags.

Professional career

The Washington Bullets selected DeSantis in the second round of the 1979 NBA draft.[7] DeSantis opted to play with Reyer Venezia Mestre in the Lega Basket Serie A in 1979–80, where he achieved all-star status before completing his professional career with the Maine Lumberjacks in the Continental Basketball Association.

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References
  1. Institute for International Sport Scholar-Athlete Hall of Fame
  2. Chris Elsberry, "Stags, Cablevision partner up on TV", Connecticut Post, November 2, 2007
  3. "The DeSantis Basketball Academy – We Will Make You Better". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2013-12-13.
  4. Chris Elberry, "DeSantis' rebound comes naturally" Archived 2008-06-22 at the Wayback Machine, Connecticut Post, December 23, 2007
  5. Fairfield University :: 1985 Hall of Fame Inductees
  6. Fairfield University :: 1985 Hall of Fame Inductees
  7. "1979 NBA Draft". Archived from the original on 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
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