Green Mountain College Director of Athletics Keith Bosley announced Tuesday that Anthony Leonelli will join the Eagles’ staff to begin his career as a head coach at Green Mountain after spending nine years as an assistant coach at the Division I and Division III levels. Leonelli takes over the helm of the GMC men’s basketball team becoming the seventh head coach in program history.
"We are excited about the addition of Coach Anthony Leonelli," said Bosley. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and college experience that will be beneficial as we strive to continue to take GMC Basketball to new heights."
Before landing in Poultney, Leonelli spent the past two seasons as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Rhode Island College under Head Coach Bob Walsh assisting with all facets of the RIC men’s basketball program including recruiting, scouting, administering practice and game coaching. During his tenure with the Anchormen, the team posted a .780 winning percentage (46-13), were 2013 Little East Regular Season and Tournament Champions, 2014 Little East Tournament Champions, and made an appearance in the 2013 and 2014 NCAA Tournaments.
"Anthony has been preparing for a head coaching position since he was a student assistant in college," said Walsh. "With his extensive experience as an assistant, he is fully prepared to take on this new role having been involved in every aspect of our program and carries with him a reputation as a dogged recruiter."
Prior to his time as part of the RIC staff, Leonelli worked as the assistant men’s basketball coach at WPI in 2011-12. During his time with the Engineers, he was a major component of the program’s recruiting efforts and was instrumental in the skill development among the team’s post players. The team was crowned 2012 Eastern College Athletic Conference Champions ending the season with a 20-7 record.
Before WPI, Leonelli served as the assistant men’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Wentworth Institute of Technology for six seasons. Aside from leading Wentworth’s recruiting efforts, he was responsible for practice planning, designing off-season workouts, monitoring academic progress, game preparation, film exchange, travel plans and also skill development, particularly with the wings and guards. During that time, the Leopards played to a .519 winning percentage (84-78) winning the 2007 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Tournament and making an appearance in the 2007 NCAA Tournament.
Players under Leonelli’s tutelage have received numerous honors. He has helped coach two CCC Player of the Year recipients, a Little East Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, two New England Women and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Rookie of the Year honorees, a CCC Rookie of the Year, six All-Conference First Teamers and a Second Team All-American. Leonelli has also had two of his players go on to play professionally overseas.
Leonelli also spent time as a student assistant while at the University of Akron, where he assisted the Division I program in off-season student workouts, monitoring academic progress, filming and administrative tasks. Prior to that, Leonelli was an assistant basketball coach at Millbury High School, where he was responsible for player development, the scouting of opponents and in-game coaching.
Besides his in season coaching experience, Leonelli has been a long-time coach at several camps, such as Hoop Mountain, The Hoop Group, Boston College Basketball Camp, and was the co-director of the WPI Basketball Camp.
"I could not be more excited to be entrusted with the Men’s Basketball program here at Green Mountain College," said Leonelli. "I [would] like to thank Keith Bosley and the rest of the search committee for this unique opportunity. I believe we can build a program that can compete immediately and in the near future [to] bring championship level basketball to the already vibrant Green Mountain campus community."
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