Joe DeSantis
Encyclopedia
Joe DeSantis is currently the color commentator
for the radio and TV broadcasts of Fairfield Stags men's basketball
and is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the second longest tenured head men's basketball coach at Quinnipiac University
.
DeSantis is best remembered as "Joey D" and his role in leading the 1978 Fairfield Stags men's basketball
team to a program best 22-5 overall record, a victory over the then #14 nationally ranked Holy Cross Crusaders, and a berth in the National Invitational Tournament.
men's basketball team. During his 11 seasons coaching the Bobcats, DeSantis guided the program through the transition from Division II to Division I while compiling an overall 118-188 record. In 2001-02, despite being a #7 seed, the Bobcats reached the Northeast Conference
(NEC) championship game in its first-ever NEC postseason appearance. In 1999-2000, DeSantis was named NEC Coach of the Year by CBSSportsLine.com after guiding the Bobcats to an 18-10 mark, their first winning season since 1992-93 and their most wins since 1987-88.
DeSantis also served as an assistant at his alma mater, Fairfield University
, for seven years (1981–88) during which the Stags
twice won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
and qualified for the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
and the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
.
DeSantis now runs the DeSantis Basketball Academy.
where he was an AP All-American Honorable Mention in 1979, First Team All New England in 1978-79 and UPJ First Team All New England in 1979. DeSantis holds the Stags
records for most field goals (727) and lifetime free throw percentage (.849, 462-544) and ranks second for career points (1,916) and career assists (622). DeSantis also set the Stags' single season free throw percentage record of .892 during the 1976-77 season which ranked fifth in the nation.
DeSantis was elected to Fairfield University Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 for his playing contributions with the Stags.
The Washington Bullets
selected DeSantis in the second round of the 1979 NBA Draft
. DeSantis opted to play with Canon of Venice in the Italian Basketball Federation
in 1979-80, where he achieved all-star status before completing his professional career with the Maine Lumberjacks in the Continental Basketball Association
.
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for the radio and TV broadcasts of Fairfield Stags men's basketball
Fairfield Stags men's basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...
and is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the second longest tenured head men's basketball coach at Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
.
DeSantis is best remembered as "Joey D" and his role in leading the 1978 Fairfield Stags men's basketball
Fairfield Stags men's basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...
team to a program best 22-5 overall record, a victory over the then #14 nationally ranked Holy Cross Crusaders, and a berth in the National Invitational Tournament.
Coaching career
DeSantis was the fifth head coach of the Quinnipiac UniversityQuinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in Hamden, Connecticut, United States at the foot of Sleeping Giant State Park...
men's basketball team. During his 11 seasons coaching the Bobcats, DeSantis guided the program through the transition from Division II to Division I while compiling an overall 118-188 record. In 2001-02, despite being a #7 seed, the Bobcats reached the Northeast Conference
Northeast Conference
The Northeast Conference is a college athletic conference whose schools are members of the NCAA. The NCAA designates the Northeast Conference to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for Division I Men's Football and to Division I Sports for all other sports.Founded in 1981 as the ECAC-Metro...
(NEC) championship game in its first-ever NEC postseason appearance. In 1999-2000, DeSantis was named NEC Coach of the Year by CBSSportsLine.com after guiding the Bobcats to an 18-10 mark, their first winning season since 1992-93 and their most wins since 1987-88.
DeSantis also served as an assistant at his alma mater, Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
, for seven years (1981–88) during which the Stags
Fairfield Stags men's basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...
twice won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
and qualified for the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
and the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
.
DeSantis now runs the DeSantis Basketball Academy.
Collegiate career
DeSantis attended Fairfield UniversityFairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
where he was an AP All-American Honorable Mention in 1979, First Team All New England in 1978-79 and UPJ First Team All New England in 1979. DeSantis holds the Stags
Fairfield Stags men's basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...
records for most field goals (727) and lifetime free throw percentage (.849, 462-544) and ranks second for career points (1,916) and career assists (622). DeSantis also set the Stags' single season free throw percentage record of .892 during the 1976-77 season which ranked fifth in the nation.
DeSantis was elected to Fairfield University Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 for his playing contributions with the Stags.
Professional career
The Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
selected DeSantis in the second round of the 1979 NBA Draft
1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. DeSantis opted to play with Canon of Venice in the Italian Basketball Federation
Italian Basketball Federation
The Italian Basketball Federation is the governing body of basketball in Italy.It is a member of the International Basketball Federation ....
in 1979-80, where he achieved all-star status before completing his professional career with the Maine Lumberjacks in the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
.