As preseason training has commenced, Upstate Men’s Basketball have continued to build the pieces ahead of the 2025-26 season with Head Coach Marty Richter announcing Jon D’Angelo as part of the staff as the assistant coach.
“I’m excited for Jon to join our program, ” Head Coach Marty Richter also mentioned, “Jon’s experience coaching at various levels will be valuable to our staff and players. He is familiar with the greater Spartanburg and Greenville area and already seems at home among our staff and in our community.”
D’Angelo joins Upstate Men’s Basketball after his recent tenure with Sunrise Christian Academy as the High School Elite Assistant Basketball Coach and prior to that a Post Graduate Assistant Basketball Coach. During his tenure at SCA, the post graduate team set a program record with 33 wins, being ranked #2 in the country and developing six Division I players and one NAIA full-scholarship player; that roster coming into the season opened with zero offers. In 2024-25 season, the High School Elite team placed fourth out of 14 in the EYBL Scholastic and earned a final national ranking of #16 according to ESPN.com. During the 2023-24 season, Jon D’Angelo was named as one of the 80 Next Up: Grassroots, HS, & More by Silver Waves Media.
Coach Jon D’Angelo mentioned how excited he is to return to the Upstate area along with joining Spartan Army. D’Angelo added, “”The Upstate has already played a special role in my growth as both a person and basketball coach. I’m incredibly excited to take on the opportunity to return and serve the Spartan community under Coach Richter, developing champions on and off the court.”
Coach Jon D’Angelo is familiar with the Upstate area as prior to his tenure with Sunrise Christian Academy, D’Angelo served as the Director of Basketball Operations at Furman University from 2018-2022. Through his time with the Paladins, Furman went 88-36 with the first two seasons bringing program records for wins along with a NIT First round appearance. Through the historic 2018-19 season, Furman added roads win over #8 ranked Villanova and defending Final-Four Cinderella, Loyola-Chicago. Gaining experience under Head Coach Bob Richey, Furman reached AP Top 25 status with the highest ranking being at #23 along with receiving votes for 13 consecutive weeks. During his time in Greenville, the Paladins helped develop future pros in Matt Rafferty, Clay Mounce, Jordan Lyons, Mike Bothwell, and Jalen Slawson.
Prior to joining Furman, Jon D’Angelo served as Graduate Assistant during the 2017-18 season with the University of Virginia working under Tony Bennett where UVA went 31-3, were ACC Regular season champions, ACC Tournament Champions, ranked #1 in the AP ranking, #1 Overall seed in the NCAA, and a NCAA First Round appearance where their season ended to UMBC. Virginia produced pros such DeAndre Hunter, Jay Huff, Ty Jerome, Mamadi Diakite, Devon Hall, Jack Salt, Isaiah Wilkins and Nigel Johnson.
Before arriving to Virginia, Jon D’Angelo worked with the University of Miami (Fla.) under Hall of Fame coach Jim Larrañaga as the student assistant from 2014-2016. During his time at Miami, he assisted in the program going 25-13 during the 2014-15 season and 27-8 during the 2015-16 season while making a NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. D’Angelo earned his bachelor’s degree in sports administration while attending the University of Miami.
A native of Howell, New Jersey, Jon D’Angelo completed his Master’s degree in higher education with a focus on intercollegiate athletics at Virginia. D’Angelo interned formally under the Cavaliers’ Associate Athletics Director of Basketball Administration, Ronnie Wideman as well as their Video Coordinator, Johnny Carpenter.
