Newbury College Director of Athletics Jonathan Harper announced today the hiring of Rich Fazzi as the new Head Men’s Basketball Coach effective immediately. Fazzi returns to Newbury after serving as an assistant coach during the 2004-2005 season. He brings over 13 years of coaching experience at the Division III level, including serving as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Pine Manor College the past three seasons, and as the Head Coach at Dean College for two campaigns (2012-2014).
“We are delighted that Rich will be joining us as our new Men’s Basketball Coach at Newbury College,” said Newbury President Joseph Chillo. “Rich brings a proven record of success on the court and he is deeply committed to the success of student-athletes. He is a hard worker, who brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to the position. In order for us to move our Men’s Basketball program forward, we needed someone who has been successful in building and developing competitive teams. Rich is definitely in that category.”
“Coach Fazzi’s impressive success at Dean and in the construction of the Pine Manor program has prepared him well for this opportunity,” said Harper. “He will utilize his passion and energy on and off the court to establish Newbury as an consistent, hard-working program in the New England Collegiate Conference. I am looking forward to bringing his unique style of defense and offensive fire power to Newbury.”
Fazzi amassed a 42-31 record as the inaugural head coach of the Pine Manor Men’s Basketball Coach, including a 16-10 this past season. The Gators earned back to back ECAC tournament berths in 2016 and 2017 and finished in the top-10 in the country in nine statistical categories during the 2016-2017 season.
In his first season at PMC he led the Gators to a 10-10 record. The freshmen dominated roster was able to lead the nation in steals per game (16.9) and turnover margin (9.6), while finishing second in the country in scoring (96.9). Fazzi’s Pine Manor squad continued to improve in their second season compiling a 16-11 record and finishing eighth in the nation with 19.22 forced-turnovers per game.
Prior to Pine Manor, Fazzi spent two years as the head coach at Dean College including a 21-5 record during the 2013-14 campaign. He earned District Two Coach of the Year Honors as the Bulldogs captured the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 21 and District Two Championships and made the school’s first ever trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Ill.
Before Dean, Fazzi spent two years as legendary head coach Phil Rowe’s top assistant at Endicott College. During the 2011-12 season, Endicott won its first Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament Championship in six years and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Championship.
Before Endicott, Fazzi spent five years as the associate head coach at Suffolk University following the one year stint as an assistant at Newbury.
A 2004 graduate of Becker College, Fazzi was a three year starter and two year captain for the Hawks. He left the Worcester campus as the 8th all-time leading scorer and also set the career field goal percentage record.
“I would like to thank Jonathan Harper, Paul Martin, President Chillo and the rest of the search committee for this amazing opportunity,” said Fazzi. “I really enjoyed my interactions during the search process. The whole Newbury Community has a tremendous amount energy and enthusiasm. It’s really a exciting time to be a part of the Nighthawk family. I feel very fortunate to come back to Newbury and build a winning culture on and off the court.”
http://www.newburynighthawks.com/sports/mbkb/2016-17/releases/20170823fazzicoach
