Iati to Join UAlbany Basketball Staff

[UA_MA_2000]

I am sure that most of us saw this already (indeed, DP has Iati's picture posted above), but I think the news deserves it's own thread. I think this news is great!

 

 

Iati to join UAlbany basketball staff

April 22, 2008 at 1:29 pm by Mark Singelais, Staff writer

 

Fan favorite Jon Iati isn’t quite done with UAlbany basketball.

 

Iati, who completed his playing career this year, will work in the UAlbany basketball office for at least the first semester of next season, according to head coach Will Brown.

 

Iati, a fifth-year senior, will help out while he earns his final six credits toward his master’s degree.

 

“He does have an interest in coaching,” Brown said. “How strong of an interest, we’re not sure right now, whether it’s the high school or college level. He’s a gym rat, a basketball junkie, and he’s gotten better as far as being more vocal. It’s something he still needs to improve upon.”

 

Brown said Iati will assist director of basketball operations Kenny Dagostino. He might also be on the practice floor and on the UAlbany bench during games, providing it complies with NCAA rules.

 

The 5-foot-9 Iati was the 2004 America East Rookie of the Year and scored more than 1,000 points in his career while helping UAlbany to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

 

As for UAlbany’s two other graduating seniors, guard Brian Lillis is still trying to decide between coaching, playing or taking a corporate job, according to Brown. Forward Brent Wilson is applying for jobs and focusing on a career in sales.

 

Note: Brown said UAlbany is two to three weeks from announcing its guarantee road games for next season. It’s logical that at least one will be against an Illinois school on behalf of senior center Jimmie Covington, a Chicago native … Without disclosing their names, Brown said there were two recruits on campus today.

[haggyland]

Time to bump that poll from a few months back?

(Although the wording there was "coach" and not "staff"...)