John Zito has been named assistant men’s basketball coach at UMBC, acting head coach Aki Thomas announced today.

Zito served on the UMBC basketball staff from May of 2008 through October of 2011 before pursuing other career opportunities.

The Windsor, Conn. native was a two-time team captain for the Retrievers, serving in that role in both the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons. The 6-6 forward earned America East Second Team honors in his senior season, after leading UMBC with 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Zito averaged 9.8 points per game in his career, amassing 978 points (15th in school history) in 100 career games with the Retrievers.

He graduated in May of 2006 with a double major in sociology and American studies.

Zito, 27, played professionally for Andrea Costa Basket in Imola, Italy in the summer and fall of 2006. He came back to Baltimore and served as head coach (boys’ thirds) at the Beth Tfiloh Community School for the 2006-07 season. He then returned to his home state in ’07-’08, serving as a volunteer assistant coach at Fairfield University.

Zito replaces Walt Fuller on the 2012-13 staff and will be reunited with Jay Greene on the sidelines. The two competed together for UMBC in the 2005-2006 campaign.

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