POSTED BY:

Colby College has announced that the men’s basketball program will be under the leadership of Sean Rutigliano , a dynamic leader with coaching successes at the Division I, II, and III levels and a track record for attracting and developing some of the best players in the country. Rutigliano helped place four former players in the National Basketball Association and collected 20 or more wins in each of the last 10 seasons, including wins over SEC and Pac 12 teams and NIT and NCAA Tournament appearances. He becomes the second coach at Colby to hold the title of the Richard L. Whitmore Jr. Head Coach for Colby Men’s Basketball, and only the third head coach of the program since 1970. “I am incredibly humbled and honored to be named the next head coach at such a prestigious institution as Colby College,” said Rutigliano. “I want to sincerely thank the Harold Alfond Director of Athletics Amanda DeMartino, President David Greene, and the entire search committee for this tremendous opportunity. Colby’s tradition of excellence, both on the court and in the classroom, makes it an exceptional place.” “Colby is one of the nation’s premier academic institutions, and the chance to compete in the highly respected NESCAC is a true privilege,” continued Rutigliano. “There is currently a very special group of student-athletes in this program, and I look forward to hitting the ground running with them and creating lifelong memories together.” Rutigliano comes to Mayflower Hill after a successful stint as assistant coach at Division I Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, guiding the Bruins to a 140-54 record in six seasons. Over that span, Belmont celebrated a 21-game win streak, won the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) regular season title twice, and hoisted the OVC Tournament championship trophy in 2020 to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Belmont transitioned to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) for the 2022-23 season, with an uptick in matchups against ranked opponents and heightened national visibility with league games televised via ESPN and CBS Network. Rutigliano was elevated to associate head coach before the 2023-24 campaign, and the team continued to find significant success. “Sean Rutigliano is the total package. He has a creative basketball mind and is committed to excellence on both ends of the floor. He’s a gifted teacher, expressive communicator, and genuine relationship builder,” said Belmont Head Coach Casey Alexander. As assistant coach for Division I Lipscomb University from 2015 to 2019, the team posted an 85-52 record, including a win over Missouri. The Bison won the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2015, earning an automatic bid in that season’s NCAA Tournament and subsequently returned to March Madness in 2018. In his final season with Lipscomb, Rutigliano helped guide the Bison to a historic 29-8 record, winning four NIT tournament games before falling to the University of Texas at Austin in the championship. Four of Rutigliano’s former players have attracted NBA attention, including NBA veterans Ben Sheppard (Indiana Pacers) and Garrison Mathews (Atlanta Hawks) and new signees Will Richard (Golden State Warriors) and Jonathan Pierre (Washington Wizards). Rutigliano opened his coaching career with stops at Kean University (Division III), the University of Alabama in Huntsville (Division II), and Ouachita Baptist University (Division II) before launching into Division I with four years at the United States Military Academy West Point from 2011 to 2015. He earned his bachelor’s of science from SUNY Cortland and a master’s of arts specializing in coaching from Ball State University. “I am excited to announce Sean Rutigliano as the next Richard L. Whitmore Jr. Head Coach for Colby Men’s Basketball,” said DeMartino. “His understanding across all levels of college basketball, the national recruiting network, and his commitment to athletic, academic, and personal excellence made him an ideal candidate for the position. We found Sean’s vision for this program, a place where top talent can thrive in an elite academic environment while competing for championships in the most competitive conference in Division III, to seamlessly align with our goals for our students and department. His experience in creating and sustaining winning cultures, building relationships, and developing players is something that really excited the committee, and we look forward to welcoming him to Mayflower Hill.” “My family and I are thrilled to become part of the Colby and Waterville communities, and we are excited to contribute to the continued success of this outstanding program,” said Rutigliano. “I am deeply aware of the legacy of Colby men’s basketball and its proud alumni. We will work tirelessly to continue putting a product on the floor that makes the Colby and Waterville communities proud, one built on toughness, togetherness, and a commitment to excellence.” Rutigliano begins his work with the Mules later this month.

Courtesy of: colbyathletics.com

NCAA3: Horner named Head Basketball Coach at D3 Buena Vista

Top 25 Stats Leaders