|
 On
August 23, 2004 La Salle University introduced Dr.
John Giannini as the 18th head coach in the 74-year
history of Explorer men’s basketball.
The late-summer appointment negated any recruiting
efforts, leaving Coach Giannini with a team
consisting of only seven available scholarship
players for most of the season.
This short-handed team showed consistent
improvement, going 5-5 in its last 10 games, ending
Massachusetts' season in the first round of the
Atlantic 10 Tournament and notching victories over
Xavier, Fordham, and Richmond before taking Xavier
to the wire in the A-10 quarterfinals.
Notable among the victories were a few milestones
including: La Salle's first victory at Rhode Island,
the school's first win over a PAC-10 opponent (USC)
in nearly 20 years and the Explorers' first win
all-time at Richmond on Feb. 9 also marked the
coach’s 300th career victory.
Giannini came to Philadelphia after an impressive
eight-year run at the University of Maine where he
built the Black Bears into a perennial force in the
America East Conference. During his tenure, Giannini
compiled the best record of any coach in UMaine
history by going 125-111 with a pair of 20-win
seasons, five trips to the America East semifinals
or better, and appearances in the AEC’s championship
in game two of his last three seasons in Orono. The
two 20-win campaigns are the only two on record in
program history.
“We are very pleased that our search for a head
coach yielded Dr. John Giannini,” said La Salle
Athletic Director Dr. Thomas Brennan. “He is not
only a great basketball coach but he also has the
background and the character that we want to see out
of the coach that will head our program. One of the
things that really impressed us was his record and
ability to build and sustain a program. We were also
very pleased with his ability to manage a wide array
of issues related to the development of
student-athletes.”
Over his last six seasons, after having two years of
recruiting, he has accumulated more wins than any
other coach in the conference with a record of
107-61. Giannini’s Black Bear teams also notched
major road wins at Providence, Marquette,
Northwestern and St. Louis.
“John Giannini has earned respect as a coach and as
a person wherever he has been,” said La Salle
President Brother Michael McGinniss. “We welcome
John to the La Salle family with every confidence
that he is a good fit for our University. He
recognizes, and believes in, the prominent place
that values and academics have at La Salle.”
Giannini’s knack for winning began much closer to
the Philadelphia area, however, having spent seven
seasons as head coach at Rowan University in nearby
Glassboro, NJ. During his run as the Profs head
coach, he amassed a 168-38 record and a Division III
National Championship in 1996 with a team that went
28-4. His Rowan teams won 20 or more game in all but
one of his seven seasons – the lone exception was a
17-11 run in his first season at the helm (1989-90).
Once again, after recruiting a roster of his own
players, Giannini had an amazing 110-12 record
during his last four seasons.
Besides the national championship, his Rowan teams
made two other appearances in the NCAA Division III
Final Four.
Before becoming the head coach at Rowan, Giannini
served on Lou Henson’s staff at the University of
Illinois from 1987-89. In his two seasons as a
graduate assistant, the Illini made two trips to the
NCAA Tournament including a Final Four appearance in
1989 with a team that went 31-5 in the regular
season.
He also assisted at Parkland Community College (Champaigne,
IL) and North Texas.
The Chicago, IL native (Fenwick High) earned his
bachelor of arts degree in psychology from North
Central College (Naperville, IL) in 1984 and his
masters in physical education with a specialization
in sports psychology from North Texas in 1986. “Dr.
John” also earned a doctorate in kinesiology with a
specialization in sports psychology from Illinois
1992.
Giannini’s ties to the Philadelphia area are
considerable, having recruited largely from the
region both at Rowan and while building the program
at Maine.
Coach Giannini’s wife Donna gave birth to their
oldest daughter Brianna (12) at Philadelphia’s
Methodist Hospital. The Giannini’s also have a
younger daughter Jamie (7). |
