Following up on something that I first mentioned on Monday (DAILY DIRT 2)…Rob DePersia has officially been named as the head basketball coach at D3 Rowan University (NJ). The school has released the following statement on his hiring:
Rob DePersia has been named the head men’s basketball coach at Rowan University, marking a return to the program for the 2019 alumnus. Director of athletics Shawn Tucker announced the appointment as DePersia becomes the 14th head coach in the Profs’ history.
DePersia returns to Glassboro after working for seven years at the Division I level. He spent a total of five seasons with the Villanova University basketball program, including two with Naismith Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright, while also gaining experience at Fordham University, and most recently, at the University of New Haven.
“What a special day for Rowan University and our Athletics Department to welcome back home one of our very own. Rob was head and shoulders the best candidate during the interview process as he passionately and eloquently showcased why Rowan men’s basketball will win a national championship in the years to come. It was clear that he gained a wealth of wisdom under exceptional leaders and now has the opportunity to implement the culture we believe is needed for Rowan men’s basketball,” said Tucker.
“I am extremely honored to return home to Rowan University as the head men’s basketball coach. I want to thank Shawn Tucker and the search committee for this incredible opportunity. This University helped shape me as a player, student and as a person. The opportunity to lead this program is a dream come true,” said DePersia.
“Rowan University has a rich tradition of excellence, and I am committed to building a program that competes at the highest level while making our players, alumni, students, and community proud. We will be dedicated to representing both the program and the university in the best possible way. Go Profs!”
DePersia began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2019 on Wright’s staff at Villanova and progressed through the ranks. During those two years, the Wildcats won two BIG EAST regular season championships, a pair of Big 5 titles, and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2021.
For the 2021-22 season, he took on the role of video coordinator at Fordham, joining former Villanova assistant Kyle Neptune when he became the head coach of the Rams.
DePersia returned to Villanova in 2022 as the assistant director of basketball operations and recruiting coordinator when Neptune was named the Wildcats’ head coach in 2022. He spent the next three seasons there on Neptune’s staff and was promoted to the director of basketball operations in 2024-25.
This past season, DePersia was the lead assistant coach at New Haven responsible for all aspects of the program including recruiting, scouting and player development.
A four-year starter and three-year captain for the Profs from 2015 to 2019, DePersia earned All-NJAC Honorable Mention in 2017 and 2019. He scored 1,004 points in his career and ranks second all-time in assists (498), while being among the Profs’ career leaders in three-point field goals (93), free throws (309) and games played (104). In his senior year, he and his twin brother, Nick, were double-digit scorers who played a key role in leading the Profs to the 2019 NJAC Championship.
A native of Cherry Hill, NJ, DePersia received a bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Rowan in 2019 and a master’s in business administration from Villanova in 2021.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT ROB DEPERSIA
“Rob was a valued member of our Villanova staff. He is a great basketball mind and has worked his way up through the coaching ranks so that he understands every aspect of running a program. He is ready to lead the Rowan program with his skill, passion, vision and loyalty as a proud Rowan alum.”
- Jay Wright, Former Villanova head coach
“I have worked Villanova and Fordham games as a broadcaster while Rob was on those coaching staffs. His knowledge of each team’s systems, philosophies, personnel, analytics and game plans that he shared with me in preparation was beyond impressive. I was not surprised because in his playing career it was obvious that he had highest levels of basketball toughness, intelligence and leadership. When you combine all these winning traits with his love of Rowan, deep area recruiting ties and relentless motivation, it is a clear formula for success. Rob will win and be an exemplary role model for players and ambassador for the university.”
- Dr. John Giannini, Former Rowan head coach
“I am excited for Rowan University and Rob DePersia. Rob loves Rowan and the game of basketball and will work tirelessly to spread that love to the Rowan University community. He helped lead us to an NJAC Championship as a player and I’m confident he will do even more as a coach. The future is bright for Rowan men’s basketball.”
- Joe Crispin, Air Force Academy head coach (Former Rowan head coach)
“I think the type of leader that Rob’s going to be for Rowan is someone who leads by example. Someone who’s very passionate about his job. The community that he’s walking into is the community that he was a part of for four years, and he did some really special things for Rowan on the basketball court… In the conversations we’ve had, what really jumped out to me is that this is something he really wanted to do. He wants to bring joy. When he was a player, he brought that joy as part of the team. He wants to do the same thing now as a coach. The excitement that he wants to bring is not only to the basketball program, but he wants to bring it to the community.
- Randy Foye, NBA (2006-17); Villanova (2002-06)
“Rob DePersia is a natural leader and one of the best young coaches I have been around. He has an elite ability to connect with players on and off the court. He is a student of the game and brings a relentless energy to everything he does. Rob is a proud alum who will pour his passion and experience back into the program and lead Rowan into a new era of success. Go Profs!”
- Mike Nardi, UConn assistant coach
