 |
 |
La Salle
University
La Salle University, dedicated in the traditions
of the Christian Brothers to excellence in
teaching and to concern for both ultimate values
and for the individual values of its students, is
a private... |
|
 |
|
Explorers in the Pros
The Atlantic 10 Conference has developed
countless future professional basketball players.
Coach Giannini highlights the former Explorers
that have gone on to play Pro Ball... |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 In
just his second season as La Salle University's head
men's basketball coach, Dr. John Giannini led the
Explorers to their most wins (18) in 14 years and a
third place finish in the Atlantic 10 Conference - the
school's highest status since it joined the league for
the 1995-96 season. The 18-10 finish also set precedents
for most Atlantic 10 wins in a season (10) most Atlantic
10 road wins in a single season (4) and delivered a
winning season to the La Salle community for the first
time since the 1992-93 season.
Along the way Giannini and the Explorers notched the
school's first win all-time at Xavier's Cintas Center,
witnessed a sell-out on their home court at Tom Gola
Arena for the first time in four seasons and won the
longest game in school history - a four-overtime,
107-106 win at Central Connecticut. They also snapped a
four-year Big 5 losing streak, ended Massachusetts'
12-game home winning streak and beat University of
Dayton for the first time in 11 games.
For his efforts, Giannini was named to the Jim Phelan
Award list for National Coach of the Year.
On August 23, 2004 La Salle University introduced Dr.
John Giannini as the 18th head coach in the 74-year
history of Explorer men’s basketball.
The late-summer appointment negated any recruiting
efforts, leaving Coach Giannini with a team consisting
of only seven available scholarship players for most of
the season.
This short-handed team showed consistent improvement,
going 5-5 in its last 10 games, ending Massachusetts'
season in the first round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament
and notching victories over Xavier, Fordham, and
Richmond before taking Xavier to the wire in the A-10
quarterfinals.
Notable among the victories were a few milestones
including: La Salle's first victory at Rhode Island, the
school's first win over a PAC-10 opponent (USC) in
nearly 20 years and the Explorers' first win all-time at
Richmond on Feb. 9 also marked the coach’s 300th career
victory.
Giannini came to Philadelphia after an impressive
eight-year run at the University of Maine where he built
the Black Bears into a perennial force in the America
East Conference. During his tenure, Giannini compiled
the best record of any coach in UMaine history by going
125-111 with a pair of 20-win seasons, five trips to the
America East semifinals or better, and appearances in
the AEC’s championship in game two of his last three
seasons in Orono. The two 20-win campaigns are the only
two on record in program history.
“We are very pleased that our search for a head coach
yielded Dr. John Giannini,” said La Salle Athletic
Director Dr. Thomas Brennan. “He is not only a great
basketball coach but he also has the background and the
character that we want to see out of the coach that will
head our program. One of the things that really
impressed us was his record and ability to build and
sustain a program. We were also very pleased with his
ability to manage a wide array of issues related to the
development of student-athletes.”
Over his last six seasons, after having two years of
recruiting, he has accumulated more wins than any other
coach in the conference with a record of 107-61.
Giannini’s Black Bear teams also notched major road wins
at Providence, Marquette, Northwestern and St. Louis.
“John Giannini has earned respect as a coach and as a
person wherever he has been,” said La Salle President
Brother Michael McGinniss. “We welcome John to the La
Salle family with every confidence that he is a good fit
for our University. He recognizes, and believes in, the
prominent place that values and academics have at La
Salle.”
Giannini’s knack for winning began much closer to the
Philadelphia area, however, having spent seven seasons
as head coach at Rowan University in nearby Glassboro,
NJ. During his run as the Profs head coach, he amassed a
168-38 record and a Division III National Championship
in 1996 with a team that went 28-4. His Rowan teams won
20 or more game in all but one of his seven seasons –
the lone exception was a 17-11 run in his first season
at the helm (1989-90). Once again, after recruiting a
roster of his own players, Giannini had an amazing
110-12 record during his last four seasons.
Besides the national championship, his Rowan teams made
two other appearances in the NCAA Division III Final
Four.
Before becoming the head coach at Rowan, Giannini served
on Lou Henson’s staff at the University of Illinois from
1987-89. In his two seasons as a graduate assistant, the
Illini made two trips to the NCAA Tournament including a
Final Four appearance in 1989 with a team that went 31-5
in the regular season.
He also assisted at Parkland Community College
(Champaign, IL) and North Texas.
The Chicago, IL native (Fenwick High) earned his
bachelor of arts degree in psychology from North Central
College (Naperville, IL) in 1984 and his masters in
physical education with a specialization in sports
psychology from North Texas in 1986. “Dr. John” also
earned a doctorate in kinesiology with a specialization
in sports psychology from Illinois 1992.
Giannini’s ties to the Philadelphia area are
considerable, having recruited largely from the region
both at Rowan and while building the program at Maine.
Coach Giannini’s wife Donna gave birth to their oldest
daughter Brianna (13) at Philadelphia’s Methodist
Hospital. The Giannini’s also have a younger daughter
Jamie (8).
Career Records
- Best winning percentage
in UMaine history including a 107-61 (.601) record
over the last six seasons.
- Best winning percentage
in the nation among active NCAA Division III
coaches at Rowan University (168-38, .814).
- A Division III national
championship, three trips to the D-III Final Four
and one trip to the Division I Final Four in his
career.
UMaine Records
- Led UMaine to its only two 20-win seasons
(2003–04, 1999–00).
- Broke UMaine records for
wins (24), conference wins (15) and attendance
during 1999–2000.
- Broke or tied UMaine
records for overall and conference wins, and
attendance during 1998–99.
- Led UMaine to the
third-most improved record in the nation in
1998–99.
- Has guided UMaine to
road wins over Big Ten member Northwestern,
Conference USA members Marquette and St. Louis,
and Big East member Providence College.
America East
Records
- Most wins among America East schools over the
last six seasons (107).
- Maine is the only conference member to advance
to the America East Tournament semifinals or
championship game in five of the last six seasons.
- Maine has appeared in two of the last three
America East Championship games.
Dr. John Giannini - Head Coaching Record:
|
1989-90 |
17-11 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, ECAC Tournament |
|
1990-91 |
20-8 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament |
|
1991-92 |
21-7 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, ECAC Champions |
|
1992-93 |
29-2 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament |
|
1993-94 |
26-2 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament |
|
1994-95 |
27-4 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, NCAA Tournament |
|
1995-96 |
28-4 |
Rowan College |
NJAC Tournament, NCAA Champions |
|
1996-97 |
11-20 |
Maine |
America East Tournament |
|
1997-98 |
7-20 |
Maine |
America East Tournament |
|
1998-99 |
19-9 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Semifinals |
|
1999-00 |
24-7 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Semifinals |
|
2000-01 |
18-11 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Semifinals |
|
2001-02 |
12-18 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Final |
|
2002-03 |
14-16 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Quarterfinal |
|
2003-04 |
20-10 |
Maine |
America East Tournament Final |
|
2004-05 |
10-19 |
La Salle |
Atlantic 10 Tournament, Quarterfinals |
|
2005-06 |
18-10 |
La Salle |
Atlantic 10
Tournament, Quarterfinals |
|
Totals |
321-178 |
(.653) overall |
125-111 (.530) at UMaine |
|
|
| |
|
|