Anthony Leonelli will serve as the Pine Manor Gators Men’s Basketball Coach for the 2020-2021 slate. He spent the last four years as Head Coach and GM for the Worcester/North Shore 78s of the American Basketball Association.
“I am excited to have Coach Leonelli in place to lead our men’s basketball program through our two year teach out plan. He is a team player and welcomed the opportunity to take on this new challenge. I am excited to see him work with our student-athletes and develop the program. His experience coaching basketball at both the collegiate and professional levels will serve our student-athletes well.” Director of Athletics Julie Prichett spoke about the appointment.
Leonelli is no stranger to Pine Manor College Athletics. He is entering his fifth year as the college’s head baseball coach and will continue to serve in this role along with his basketball duties.
Before his foray into pro basketball Leonelli spent 11 years coaching in the collegiate ranks: spending 2014-16 as the Head Coach at Green Mountain College, 2012-2014 as an assistant at Rhode Island College, 2011-2012 as an assistant at WPI and 2005-2011 as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Wentworth. During that time his teams qualified for 3 NCAA tournaments and 2 ECAC tournaments.
Leonelli walks into an interesting situation as Pine Manor will only function for two more years before becoming part of Boston College and will recruit no new students. “I’m thrilled to be entrusted with the final seasons of Pine Manor Basketball- these talented young men deserve a committed leader and I’m excited to help them leave their mark.” said Leonelli from his home in Central Massachusetts adding “with all the uncertainty with the nationwide pandemic I’m excited to get in touch and get to know these guys so we can get to work as soon as possible.”
At Green Mountain he inherited a 4 win team at a struggling Enviormental Liberal Arts school on the verge of closing. In year one they posted a 8-16 record, in year 2 a 21-4 record.
In the ABA Leonelli lead the expansion Worcester franchise to 3 winning seasons out of the gate, including a national ranking as high as #2. The 78s averaged 135.6 points per game during his time at the helm. During that time he sent 7 players overseas.
https://pmcathletics.com/general/2019-20/releases/20200616dut3ld
