John Coffino is head coach

Head coach

A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

 of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds

Albuquerque Thunderbirds

The New Mexico Thunderbirds were a professional NBA Development League minor league basketball team which played from 2005-2011. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Thunderbirds first played their home games at Tingley Coliseum as the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, then played at the Santa Ana Star...

 of the NBA Developmental League

NBA Development League

The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...

. Coffino is in his second season as head coach

Head coach

A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...

 after serving as Jeff Ruland

Jeff Ruland

Jeffrey Alan Ruland is a retired American basketball player and current coach. He is the former head coach of the Iona Gaels men's college basketball team and current head coach of the UDC Firebirds men's college basketball team.-Early life and collegiate career:A 6'11", 280 lb center, Ruland...

's assistant coach for a year with the Thunderbirds. Before joining the professional ranks, Coffino worked nine years as a Division I assistant coach, working at Iona

Iona

Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...

 (1997–99), 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...

 (1999–2002) and St. Peter's (2002–2006) and gained a reputation as an outstanding recruiter of high school and junior college talent from the New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

 area. Coffino started his coaching career at Westchester Community College

Westchester Community College

Westchester Community College is a public, two-year community college in Valhalla, New York, sponsored by Westchester County, New York, and the State University of New York . The college is one of 30 community colleges affiliated with SUNY....

 (1992–97) in Valhalla, New York

Valhalla, New York

Valhalla is an unincorporated hamlet and census-designated place that is located within the town of Mount Pleasant, New York, in Westchester County. Its population was 3,162 at the 2010 U.S. Census...

. While working for St. Peter's, Coffino and Wagner head coach Mike Deane

Mike Deane

Mike Deane was most recently head basketball coach at Wagner College. He was relieved of his duties on 3/1/2010. He previously held the same position at Siena College, Marquette University, and Lamar University. Michael Deane recorded his 400th career victory on December 15, 2007 against the...

were used as NCAA Tournament analysts on the since-defunct "Wally and the Keeg" show on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York City.