 |
Mitch Buonaguro is widely regarded as one of the most experienced and respected assistant coaches in the country. He has over 30 years of Division I coaching experience as both an assistant and head coach after spending the last five seasons with McCaffery at Siena and UNC-Greensboro. He coached his 1,000th game at Rider on Feb. 7, 2010. Buonaguro came to UNCG prior to the 2004-2005 season after seven years as an assistant coach under legendary head coach Rollie Massimino at Cleveland State. Prior to his seven-year stint at Cleveland State, Buonaguro served as an assistant coach under Tony Barone at Texas A&M from 1991-96. The 1993-94 squad went 19-11 and advanced to the National Invitational Tournament. Buonaguro was the head coach at MAAC member Fairfield University from 1985-91. In his first season he led the Stags to a 24-7 record and the first of two consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles, which garnered NCAA Tournament bids. Subsequently, he was named National Rookie Coach of the Year by Basketball Times and District I Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association and the NABC. From 1977-85 Buonaguro was an assistant under Massimino at Villanova. During their eight years together at Villanova, the Wildcats produced a 173-79 mark and earned seven NCAA Tournament bids. Four of those NCAA trips led to Elite Eight appearances, including the 1985 Tournament run, which culminated with the Wildcats' famous win over John Thompson, Patrick Ewing and Georgetown in the NCAA title game, and a National Championship. Buonaguro began his coaching career in 1975 when he was named an assistant at his alma mater Boston College. Buonaguro was a member of the Eagle basketball team for four seasons. Buonaguro ranks among a select group of individuals who have both played and coached in the NCAA Division I Tournament. He scored four points, while hitting both field goal attempts, for Boston College in the 1975 NCAA Tournament as the Eagles topped Southern Conference member Furman in the first round. The Eagles eventually lost to Kansas State in the regional semifinals and then to North Carolina in the regional third-place game. He graduated cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1975 and in 1977 he received a master's degree in secondary education, both from Boston College. Buonaguro and his wife Suzin reside in the Capital Region. His son Michael is a senior at Siena. |
|||||||||||||
