Don Maestri
Encyclopedia
Don Maestri is an American
college basketball
coach and the current head men's basketball coach of the Troy University
Trojans
. He has held the same position since 1982 and is one of five current coaches to have coached the same team during its school's move from NCAA Division II to Division I. Prior to accepting this position, Maestri was an assistant coach at Mississippi State University
from 1979 to 1980 and at the University of Alabama
from 1980 to 1982. Maestri has coached the Trojans to a record of 463-328, one NCAA Basketball Tournament
, five regular season conference titles, and one conference tournament title over the course of 26 seasons at Troy. He has been named coach of the year in the East Coast Conference
(1994), the Summit League (1997, then known as the Mid-Continent Conference), Atlantic Sun Conference
(2000 and 2004) and the Sun Belt Conference
(2009)
Maestri is famous for his run and gun style of basketball, which has led the Trojans to lead Division I NCAA Basketball in 3-pointers per game three consecutive seasons, from 2003 to 2006. He also coached Troy to a 258–141 win over the DeVry Institute of Atlanta on January 12, 1992 which is the highest scoring basketball game in NCAA history. Ironically, his emphasis on defensive pressure and a lock-down style of basketball is what pushed the Trojans to two Division II Final Fours in six years.
Five different conferences have called Maestri its Coach of the Year, tying him with West Virginia's Bob Huggins
for the most among active coaches.
He earned his 450th career win against Arkansas State during the 2008-09 season.
. In 10 seasons as coach, he posted a 211–99 record, leading Holy Cross to a state runner-up finish in the top classification in the Louisiana high school ranks in 1974. This 1974 team had a final record of 35–6.
His 1976 team finished with a 32–3 record and was ranked 11th in the nation.
Maestri's teams also finished 1st or 2nd place six times in the Catholic League
.
. During his one year with the program, the Bulldogs finished with a 13–14 record and tied for 6th in the Southeastern Conference
.
on Winfrey Sanderson
's staff (1980–82). During his time with the Crimson Tide, Alabama participated in the NIT and NCAA
tournaments.
Alabama
finished 24-7 in 1982, winning the Southeastern Conference
Tournament and advancing to the NCAA East Regional.
basketball team in 1982. When he took over the reins of the Troy basketball program, the Trojans had not posted a winning season in the previous five seasons.
Maestri quickly turned the program into a perennial Division II powerhouse. He led the Trojans to a Gulf South Conference
title in the 1990–91 season, where they received an invitation to the NCAA Tournament
, defeating Florida Southern
78–73 in the 1st Round before falling to North Alabama
86–93 in the 2nd round. He was named Gulf South Coach of the Year for his efforts.
The head coach led Troy State to five NCAA Tournament
appearances in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Maestri finished with an overall record of 237–131 in Division II.
During the 1987–88 season, the Trojans finished with a 24–10, winning the Gulf South Conference
title. Troy State made it to the Elite Eight
of the NCAA Tournament
before falling 72–77 to Alaska-Anchorage
.
Five seasons later in 1992–93, Maestri helped the Trojans to a 27–5 record and led them to the NCAA Tournament
Finals, only to fall to Cal State Bakersfield
72–85. Maestri was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the NCAA
following his team's brilliant season.
and winning the conference title. Troy also gained national recognition by leading the nation in three-pointers made per game while averaging 97.6 points per contest. For his efforts, Maestri was named East Coast Conference
Coach of the Year.
In 1995, Troy State left the East Coast Conference
to join the Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League).
During the 1996–97, the Trojans were back in contention in the Mid-Continent Conference, upsetting Sweet 16 participant Valparaiso
, 72–69, on the road in overtime to cap a 17–10 record. Troy claimed third place in the conference that year, with Maestri earning Coach of the Year honors again.
The Trojans left the Mid-Continent Conference to join the Atlantic Sun Conference
in 1998. Maestri's teams struggled mightily their first two seasons in the Atlantic Sun in 1998 and 1999, but quickly turned their fortunes around the next season. In 2000, Maestri brought the Trojans their first conference title in six years and their first Division I conference title. Though the Trojans won the regular season title that year, they did not win the conference tournament, thus keeping them from getting in the NCAA Tournament
.
Two seasons later in the 2001–02 season, Maestri was once again able to lead his team to another Atlantic Sun regular season title. Once again though, his Trojans failed to win the conference tournament and were once again left out of the NCAA Tournament
.
In the 2002–03, Maestri recorded his best season ever in Division I. He coached his team to a 26–6 record and they won the Atlantic Sun
regular season and conference tournament titles. During the season, the team defeated a Southeastern Conference
for the first time ever, defeating Arkansas
74–66. The Trojans received their first ever invitation to the NCAA Tournament
as a Division I program. They fell to Xavier
59–71 in the 1st round.
The very next 2003–04 season, Maestri once again coached Troy
to an Atlantic Sun
regular season title for the third consecutive time and finished the season with an 18-2 conference record and a 24–7 record overall. To this day the 18 league victories is the highest single-season total for any Atlantic Sun school. The veteran coach earned A-Sun
Coach of the Year honors. Maestri's Trojans received an invitation to the NIT, where the would be defeated in the 1st Round by Niagara
, 83–87. The Trojans finished the year second in Division I in scoring at 84.6 points per game, and ninth in scoring margin, winning by an average of 12.0 points per game. Troy
also led all of college basketball in three-point field goals made with 346.
In 2005, Troy
joined the Sun Belt Conference
. Maestri's teams did not finish with a winning record from the 2004–05 season to the 2007–08 season.
Maestri was finally able to coach his team to winning record once again during the 2008–09 season. Troy finished with a 19–13 record and received an invitation to the CBI
tournament, where they were defeated by the College of Charleston
in the 1st round, 91–93. Maestri was awarded the Sun Belt
Coach of the Year and was also named Coach of the Year by highly-respected CollegeInsider.com following the successful campaign.
During Maestri's 2009–10 campaign, he recorded the programs first ever win over in-state opponent Auburn
, beating the Tigers in Beard-Eaves Coliseum by a score of 81–77. His team went on to win the Sun Belt regular season title.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach and the current head men's basketball coach of the Troy University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
Trojans
Troy Trojans
The Troy Trojans were a Major League Baseball team in the National League for four seasons from 1879 to 1882. Their home games were played at Putnam Grounds , Haymakers' Grounds , and Troy Ball Clubs Grounds , all in the upstate New York city of Troy. Overall, the franchise won 131 games and lost...
. He has held the same position since 1982 and is one of five current coaches to have coached the same team during its school's move from NCAA Division II to Division I. Prior to accepting this position, Maestri was an assistant coach at Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
from 1979 to 1980 and at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
from 1980 to 1982. Maestri has coached the Trojans to a record of 463-328, one NCAA Basketball Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, five regular season conference titles, and one conference tournament title over the course of 26 seasons at Troy. He has been named coach of the year in the East Coast Conference
East Coast Conference (Division I)
The East Coast Conference was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference. It was founded as the university division of the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1958. The MAC consisted of over 30 teams at this time, making it impossible to organize a full conference schedule in sports like football,...
(1994), the Summit League (1997, then known as the Mid-Continent Conference), Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
(2000 and 2004) and the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
(2009)
Maestri is famous for his run and gun style of basketball, which has led the Trojans to lead Division I NCAA Basketball in 3-pointers per game three consecutive seasons, from 2003 to 2006. He also coached Troy to a 258–141 win over the DeVry Institute of Atlanta on January 12, 1992 which is the highest scoring basketball game in NCAA history. Ironically, his emphasis on defensive pressure and a lock-down style of basketball is what pushed the Trojans to two Division II Final Fours in six years.
Five different conferences have called Maestri its Coach of the Year, tying him with West Virginia's Bob Huggins
Bob Huggins
Bob Huggins, nicknamed "Huggy Bear", is the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team. Huggins previously held the head coaching positions at the University of Cincinnati and Kansas State University...
for the most among active coaches.
He earned his 450th career win against Arkansas State during the 2008-09 season.
Holy Cross High School
Maestri began his coaching career in the fall of 1970 at Holy Cross High School in his hometown of New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. In 10 seasons as coach, he posted a 211–99 record, leading Holy Cross to a state runner-up finish in the top classification in the Louisiana high school ranks in 1974. This 1974 team had a final record of 35–6.
His 1976 team finished with a 32–3 record and was ranked 11th in the nation.
Maestri's teams also finished 1st or 2nd place six times in the Catholic League
New Orleans Catholic League
The Catholic League was a high school sports league in the Greater New Orleans area.The history of the Catholic League can be traced back to 1895, but the first season of the Catholic League as we know it was in 1955...
.
Mississippi State (assistant)
Maestri spent the 1979–80 season as an assistant coach for Jim Hatfield at Mississippi StateMississippi State University
The Mississippi State University of Agriculture and Applied Science commonly known as Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi, United States, partially in the town of Starkville and partially in an unincorporated area...
. During his one year with the program, the Bulldogs finished with a 13–14 record and tied for 6th in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
Alabama
Maestri spent two seasons at the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
on Winfrey Sanderson
Winfrey Sanderson
Winfrey "Wimp" Sanderson is a retired American college basketball coach. He coached at the University of Alabama from 1981 to 1992 and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock from 1994 to 1999....
's staff (1980–82). During his time with the Crimson Tide, Alabama participated in the NIT and NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
tournaments.
Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
finished 24-7 in 1982, winning the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Tournament and advancing to the NCAA East Regional.
Division II
Maestri was named the head coach of the Troy UniversityTroy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
basketball team in 1982. When he took over the reins of the Troy basketball program, the Trojans had not posted a winning season in the previous five seasons.
Maestri quickly turned the program into a perennial Division II powerhouse. He led the Trojans to a Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
title in the 1990–91 season, where they received an invitation to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
, defeating Florida Southern
Florida Southern College
Florida Southern College is a private college located in Lakeland, Florida, United States. It was selected by U.S...
78–73 in the 1st Round before falling to North Alabama
University of North Alabama
The University of North Alabama is a coeducational university located in Florence, Alabama, and the state's oldest four-year public university....
86–93 in the 2nd round. He was named Gulf South Coach of the Year for his efforts.
The head coach led Troy State to five NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
appearances in 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. Maestri finished with an overall record of 237–131 in Division II.
During the 1987–88 season, the Trojans finished with a 24–10, winning the Gulf South Conference
Gulf South Conference
The Gulf South Conference is a College Athletic Conference which operates in the southeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division II.-History:...
title. Troy State made it to the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
of the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
before falling 72–77 to Alaska-Anchorage
University of Alaska Anchorage
The University of Alaska Anchorage is the largest school of the University of Alaska System, with about 16,500 students, about 14,000 of whom attend classes at Goose Lake, its main campus in Anchorage....
.
Five seasons later in 1992–93, Maestri helped the Trojans to a 27–5 record and led them to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship
The NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Championship is an annual championship tournament for colleges and universities that are members of NCAA Division II, a grouping of schools in the United States that are generally smaller than the higher-profile institutions of Division I...
Finals, only to fall to Cal State Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield
California State University, Bakersfield is a public university located in Bakersfield, California, United States which was founded in 1965. CSUB opened in 1970 on a campus, becoming the 19th school in the California State University system...
72–85. Maestri was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
following his team's brilliant season.
Division I
During Troy's first season at the Division I level, 1993–94, Maestri’s run-and-gun style shot the Trojans to a conference title, going undefeated in the East Coast ConferenceEast Coast Conference (Division I)
The East Coast Conference was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference. It was founded as the university division of the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1958. The MAC consisted of over 30 teams at this time, making it impossible to organize a full conference schedule in sports like football,...
and winning the conference title. Troy also gained national recognition by leading the nation in three-pointers made per game while averaging 97.6 points per contest. For his efforts, Maestri was named East Coast Conference
East Coast Conference (Division I)
The East Coast Conference was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference. It was founded as the university division of the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1958. The MAC consisted of over 30 teams at this time, making it impossible to organize a full conference schedule in sports like football,...
Coach of the Year.
In 1995, Troy State left the East Coast Conference
East Coast Conference (Division I)
The East Coast Conference was an NCAA Division I college athletic conference. It was founded as the university division of the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1958. The MAC consisted of over 30 teams at this time, making it impossible to organize a full conference schedule in sports like football,...
to join the Mid-Continent Conference (now The Summit League).
During the 1996–97, the Trojans were back in contention in the Mid-Continent Conference, upsetting Sweet 16 participant Valparaiso
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
, 72–69, on the road in overtime to cap a 17–10 record. Troy claimed third place in the conference that year, with Maestri earning Coach of the Year honors again.
The Trojans left the Mid-Continent Conference to join the Atlantic Sun Conference
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
in 1998. Maestri's teams struggled mightily their first two seasons in the Atlantic Sun in 1998 and 1999, but quickly turned their fortunes around the next season. In 2000, Maestri brought the Trojans their first conference title in six years and their first Division I conference title. Though the Trojans won the regular season title that year, they did not win the conference tournament, thus keeping them from getting in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
.
Two seasons later in the 2001–02 season, Maestri was once again able to lead his team to another Atlantic Sun regular season title. Once again though, his Trojans failed to win the conference tournament and were once again left out of the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
.
In the 2002–03, Maestri recorded his best season ever in Division I. He coached his team to a 26–6 record and they won the Atlantic Sun
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
regular season and conference tournament titles. During the season, the team defeated a Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
for the first time ever, defeating Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
74–66. The Trojans received their first ever invitation to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
as a Division I program. They fell to Xavier
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
59–71 in the 1st round.
The very next 2003–04 season, Maestri once again coached Troy
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
to an Atlantic Sun
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
regular season title for the third consecutive time and finished the season with an 18-2 conference record and a 24–7 record overall. To this day the 18 league victories is the highest single-season total for any Atlantic Sun school. The veteran coach earned A-Sun
Atlantic Sun Conference
The Atlantic Sun Conference is a college athletic conference operating in the Southeastern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I; it does not sponsor football. The conference was established in 1978 as the Trans America Athletic Conference...
Coach of the Year honors. Maestri's Trojans received an invitation to the NIT, where the would be defeated in the 1st Round by Niagara
Niagara University
Niagara University is a Catholic university in the Vincentian tradition, located in the Town of Lewiston in Niagara County, New York. Originally founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1856 as Our Lady of Angels Seminary, it became Niagara University in 1883. The University is still run by...
, 83–87. The Trojans finished the year second in Division I in scoring at 84.6 points per game, and ninth in scoring margin, winning by an average of 12.0 points per game. Troy
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
also led all of college basketball in three-point field goals made with 346.
In 2005, Troy
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
joined the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
. Maestri's teams did not finish with a winning record from the 2004–05 season to the 2007–08 season.
Maestri was finally able to coach his team to winning record once again during the 2008–09 season. Troy finished with a 19–13 record and received an invitation to the CBI
College Basketball Invitational
The College Basketball Invitational is a men's college basketball tournament created in 2007 by The Gazelle Group. The inaugural tournament occurred after the conclusion of the 2007–08 men's college basketball regular season. The CBI selects 16 teams that are not selected for the NCAA Tournament...
tournament, where they were defeated by the College of Charleston
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States...
in the 1st round, 91–93. Maestri was awarded the Sun Belt
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
Coach of the Year and was also named Coach of the Year by highly-respected CollegeInsider.com following the successful campaign.
During Maestri's 2009–10 campaign, he recorded the programs first ever win over in-state opponent Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, beating the Tigers in Beard-Eaves Coliseum by a score of 81–77. His team went on to win the Sun Belt regular season title.