MAAC Has own "Cradle of Coaches"

At home Siena games, a Saints' related trivia question is offered on the team's home-court jumbo scoreboard at the Times Union Center.

The question at Siena's game Sunday against Saint Peter's, as formulated by the Saints' proficient sports information director Jason Rich, was a good one.

The question: How many former Siena head coaches or assistant coaches are currently head coaches at Division I men's basketball programs?

The answer given the night of the game was six, which is pretty strong representation.

And, actually, the correct number -- as pointed out by a very astute Siena fan (Jerry Sherry) -- is actually one more than originally thought.

Considering that there are 343 Division I schools, having seven of them directed by individuals who formerly roamed the Siena sidelines is indeed impressive. Siena's contributions of its former personnel is even more impressive after identifying some others who serve in other capacities in the sport.

Anyway, here's the answer to the trivia question, the six announced at the recent game that currently serve as head coaches, with their past Siena affiliations:
- Mike Deane, a former Siena head coach from the 1986-87 through the 1993-94 seasons. Deane is now the head coach at Wagner College.
- Paul Hewitt, Siena's head coach from the 1997-98 through the 1999-00 seasons. Hewitt is the head coach at Georgia Tech.
- Louis Orr, Siena's head coach in the 2000-01 season. Orr is the head coach at Bowling Green.
- Cliff Warren, a Siena assistant coach from the 1997-98 through the 1999-00 seasons, is the head coach at Jacksonville.
- John Dunne, a Siena assistant coach for the 2000-01 and '01-02 seasons, is the head coach at Saint Peter's.
- Brian Nash, a Siena assistant coach for the 2000-01 season, is the head coach at Saint Francis of New York.

And, here's No. 7:
- Matt Kilcullen, a Siena assistant coach from the 1982-83 season through the 1984-85 season, is in his 11th year as head coach at the University of North Florida.

There's also one former Siena player serving as a D-I head coach. Former standout point guard Matt Brady (1983-84 through 1986-87) is the first-year head coach at James Madison University after four seasons as the Marist head coach.

And, there are plenty of others with Siena connections scattered throughout various levels of basketball. A sometimes faltering memory comes up with the following. If you remember others, please pass them along...

Two other former Siena assistants are college head coaches at other levels of college basketball.
- Steve Evans, a Siena assistant from 1998-99 through 2000-01, is the head coach at LeMoyne College, a Division II program.
- Brad McAlester, a Siena assistant from 1991-92 through 1993-94, is the head coach at Lebanon Valley (Pa.) College, a Division III program.

And, one other former Siena player, all-time leading scorer Marc Brown (1987-88 through 1990-91 seasons) is the had coach at New Jersey City University.


- Former Siena head coach Bob Beyer (1994-95 through 1996-97) and former Siena assistant Steve Clifford (1994-95) are both assistant coaches with the NBA's Orlando Magic. Clifford, twice a candidate to become Siena's head coach (he was perceived as the likely choice in 2001 before withdrawing from consideration to remain in the NBA), has been an assistant NBA coach for eight seasons, after serving three seasons as a scout.
- Former Siena assistant coach Rob Jackson (20001-02, '02-03) is a scout for the Sacramento Kings.
- Former Siena assistant coach Tim Capstraw (1987-88 through 1991-92) is the color commentator for the NBA New Jersey Nets' radio network's broadcasts.
- Former Siena head coach Rob Lanier (2001-02 through the 2004-05 season) is an assistant coach at the University of Florida.
- Former Siena assistant coach Steve Seymour (2001-02 through the 2004-05 season) is an assistant coach at the University of Virginia.
- Former Siena assistant coach Robert Burke (1997-98 through the 1999-00 season) is an assistant coach at Georgetown University.
- Former Siena player Brian Bidlingmyer (1991-92 through the 1994-95 season) is an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
- Former Siena assistant coach Craig Carter (2005-06) is an assistant coach at Rutgers University.

Apologies to any this blogger might have overlooked.