Joe Balestrieri begins his first season on the Wake Forest basketball staff in 2014-15, serving as the program’s Video Coordinator.
In his current role on the Demon Deacon staff, Balestrieri is responsible for managing the program’s video operations, including film cutups and exchanges.
Balestrieri (pronounced bal-uh-STRARE-ee) came to Wake Forest in June 2014 after a two-year stint in the same position as a graduate assistant under Danny Manning at the University of Tulsa. He helped lead the Golden Hurricane to the 2013-14 Conference USA championship, the program’s first title since 2003. In addition to his video operations duties, Balestrieri also assisted in team travel.
"I am very excited to be joining Coach Manning at Wake Forest University," said Balestrieri. "I am humbled by the opportunity to be a part of this great university’s basketball tradition, and I look forward to the challenge of competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference."
Prior to Tulsa, Balestrieri served as an assistant coach for one season at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan., working under then-Baker head coach and current Wake Forest assistant coach Brett Ballard.
Balestrieri began his career as an undergraduate student at the University of Kansas, where he served as a student manager for the basketball program under head coach Bill Self from 2007-10. He was appointed head manager for his senior season in 2009-10. As head manager for the Jayhawks, Balestrieri oversaw a staff of seven other managers. His duties also included the scheduling and directing of managers during practice and games, set-up and assisting with practice and games, preparing for road trips, laundry and gear organization and distribution.
Balestrieri also worked the Bill Self Basketball Camps from 2006-10. In 2010 he served as co-director of Bill Self’s team camp. Prior to the 2010 camp, he assisted with set-up and preparation of the camps and staffing and overseeing camp counselors.
During Balestrieri’s time as part of the Kansas basketball program, the Jayhawks won the 2008 national championship, advanced to one NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen, won three Big 12 regular season championships and won two Big 12 Conference Tournament Championships.
A native of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Balestrieri earned his bachelor of science degree in health and physical education in 2010 from the University of Kansas. He went on to earn a Master’s of Arts degree in Education from Tulsa in 2014.
Stay with HoopDirt for the latest college basketball coaching news and rumors.
