Harvard men’s basketball head coach Tommy Amaker has finalized his coaching staff for 2013-14 with the promotion of Brian DeStefano to associate head coach and the hiring of Adam Cohen and Christian Webster ’13 as assistant coaches.
DeStefano is entering his seventh season at Harvard and has helped to turn the Crimson into a perennial Ivy League contender. During this time Harvard has posted an overall record of 112-66, 54-30 in the conference, with four straight 20-win seasons and postseason appearances. The Crimson has won each of the last three Ivy League titles while earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament each of the last two seasons. This year’s squad knocked off third-seed New Mexico in the tournament’s second round, earning the program’s first win in March Madness.
With DeStefano on the sidelines, Harvard student-athletes have garnered 16 All-Ivy League honors, two rookie of the year accolades and one player of the year nod. Seven Crimson have also been named NABC All-District with three earning Academic All-Ivy League honors.
A 2005 graduate of Duke, DeStefano worked four seasons as a manager under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski before spending two seasons as a graduate assistant and head team manager. In six seasons with the Blue Devils DeStefano was a part of four ACC Tournament championships, including a run to the 2004 Final Four. Additionally, DeStefano worked with nine NBA players in Durham.
DeStefano earned his bachelors degree in political science in 2005 and completed his masters in the same field in 2007.
Cohen arrives in Cambridge after spending last season with the Rice Owls. There he worked primarily with the perimeter players, including Max Guercy who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team after garnering five freshman of the week honors. Cohen was also heavily involved in the Owls’ recruiting efforts, helping to secure next season’s class of incoming freshmen.
Prior to joining the Rice staff, Cohen spent three seasons at Southern Cal where he climbed the ranks from video coordinator to director of basketball operations. During his final season at USC, Cohen was responsible for assisting in scouting preparation, film exchange and breakdown, and oversight of USC basketball camps. He also served as a liaison with the compliance department and worked closely with student-athletes on their academic progress.
Cohen began his coaching career in 2008-09 as a graduate assistant at New Orleans.
A 2008 graduate of Arizona, Cohen served as a student manager and assistant video coordinator for three years under hall of famer Lute Olson. Cohen worked with six future NBA players while with the Wildcats and aided the program to 59 total wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science in May of 2008.
Webster returns to Cambridge after graduating in May as the winningest student-athlete in program history. The Washington, D.C., native captained this past year’s squad to a 20-10 overall record en route to its third straight Ivy League championship and the program’s first ever win in the NCAA Tournament. Webster finished the year off averaging 8.4 ppg and 2.9 rpg while playing 33.6 minutes.
Webster’s career record stands at 90-30 with a 45-11 mark in the Ancient Eight. Harvard won at least 20 games in each of his four years with the team, and earned a trip to the postseason each year as well. He ranks 28th in Crimson annals with 1,016 points, is fifth with 176 three-pointers, and stands in second place with 117 career games played. Webster was an All-Ivy League honorable mention selection as a sophomore, and was also a recipient of Harvard’s John Harnice ’84 Spirit Award (2012-13), Floyd S. Wilson Sportsmanship Award (2010-11), and Henry Zimmerman Free Throw Shooting Accuracy Award (2009-10).
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