Rollie Massimino

Already recognized as one of the best coaching minds in America, Cleveland State Head Coach Rollie Massimino added another exclamation point in the midst of his 29th year as a college coach. Massimino, who most know guided Villanova to the 1985 NCAA Championship, posted his 500th career victory on Dec. 27, 2001 when Cleveland State defeated Duquesne 84-62 in Cleveland. With the win, Massimino joined a very elite group of coaches as the 16th individual to win an NCAA title and 500 games. In addition, he also put Cleveland State among the select few schools that have had two coaches reach their 500th win while coaching at the institution, joining John McLendon. Massimino currently ranks 13th and 14th, respectively, among active coaches in number of seasons (28) and games (862) coached. He is tied with Richardson at 19th for victories while he ranks 20th among coaches with 20-win seasons with 10. Overall, he has notched a 502-360 (.584) record in his 28 years of coaching to rank 58th among active coaches among all divisions. Even though his most recent squad came up just short of the 20-win mark, the 2000-01 Vikings took another big step by finishing 19-13, marking just the sixth time in school history that CSU has totalled 19 wins or more. In addition, the Vikes became one of just three Division I programs in the country to increase its win total each of the last five years. And considering the shape of affairs when he arrived on the CSU campus, that note is even more impressive. Taking over a program that only chalked up five wins the year before didn’t make things easy. Massimino’s first two CSU teams took baby steps, winning nine and 12, respectively. However the program continued to progress. In 1997-98, the Vikes went 14-14 overall and followed with a 16-14 finish in 1999-2000. How has he done it? By stressing the importance of family in his coaching philosophy. His players know they are part of a family - the Viking basketball family. Another motivating force his the following belief - “Enthusiasm is Contagious!” That message reflects Coach Massimino’s view of life. By giving 100 percent, on and off the court, those around you can’t help but believe and become inspired. In Massimino’s case, he instills enthusiasm into those around him by seemingly giving 150 percent - all the time. Always moving. And moving. And moving. He motivates through his ceaseless energy. His enthusiasm for life and the game of basketball spills over to his player’s performances on the court and in the classroom as well as into their daily lives. Madness, some say. But in his madness is a method that once took him to the top of the collegiate basketball world. His constant movement, as it was hoped when he was hired, has awakened the once-slumbering Viking program. Named head coach at Cleveland State on April 20, 1996, Massimino brought a well-known resume to Cleveland as one of the most respected coaches in the game. A two-year stint at UNLV along with his highly-successful 19-year tenure at Villanova University made him a recognizable name. Over the years, Massimino has racked up numerous awards. In 1985, he was tabbed National Coach of the Year by both MacGregor Sporting Goods and Playboy magazine while in 1982 he earned Big East Coach of the Year accolades, just one of eight times he was honored on a league basis. Massimino took his Villanova program to THE top in 1985, when the Wildcats pounced on heavily-favored Georgetown to take the NCAA Championship on April 1. During his tenure at Villanova, the Wildcats earned 16 postseason tournament berths with 11 being in the NCAA Tournament. In Villanova’s 12 seasons of Big East play under Massimino, his squads earned two regular-season titles, advanced to the conference championship game three times and compiled a 110-80 (.578) regular-season record. Massimino began his coaching career in 1956 after graduating from the University of Vermont where he played varsity basketball for three years. His first three seasons he served as an assistant coach at Cranford (NJ) High school before securing his first head coaching job at Hillside (NJ) High School, his prep alma mater, in 1959. From there he moved to Lexington (MA) High School in 1963 where he led one squad to a state championship and another to a 20-1 record. In 10 seasons as a high school coach, Massimino compiled a 160-61 record. He debuted at the collegiate coaching level in 1969 as the head coach at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Stony Brook. His first team went 19-6, won the conference championship and earned a berth in the NCAA small college tournament. Massimino’s next step was an assistant’s position at the University of Pennsylvania under Chuck Daly, most recently of the NBA’s Orlando Magic. In March 1973, Massimino left Penn to succeed Jack Kraft as the head coach at Villanova. Massimino has a master’s degree equivalent in health and physical education from Rutgers University (1959) and a bachelor’s degree from Vermont (1956) in education. Massimino and his wife Mary Jane have five children - Tom, Lee Ann, Michele, Roland (R.C.) and Andrew - as well as 16 grandchildren.

Massimino Year-by-Year 2000-2001...The Vikings take another step forward with Massimino, going 19-13 and becoming one of just three Division I squads to increase their win total over the last five years...The Green & White become Cleveland’s new Cardiac Kids with their dramatic games...32 games were decided by eight points or less while 13 games hinged on just four...CSU once again spends the first half of the conference season at the top of the standings, finally turning in a 9-5 conference record to finish third...The Vikings put up an 11-1 mark at home...Junior Theo Dixon is named first-team all-conference while sophomore Tahric Gosley is named to the all-defensive team...Massimino signs a contract extension to keep him through the 2004-2005 season.

1999-2000...In Massimino’s fourth season with Cleveland State, the Vikings turn the corner and finish 16-14, the first winning season since 1992-93...The Vikes, who were picked in the MCC pre-season polls to finish third, outdo the prognosticators and earn the #2 seed in the MCC Tournament with a 9-5 league mark...The Vikes spend the first five weeks of the conference season at the top of the standings...CSU posts a 9-4 mark at Goodman Arena...Massimino picks up his 50th victory at the Viking helm with, ironically, a win over Stony Brook on Feb. 16.

1998-99 ...Massimino guides the Vikings to a 13-13 regular season mark in his third season, the first time since 1992-93 (22-5) that CSU finishes at or above .500 during the regular season, and a 14-14 record overall...The Vikes take another step up in conference standings and earn the #5 seed in the league tournament with a 6-8 MCC mark...CSU wins five of its last seven regular season games to close out the season...The Vikes go 9-5 at home...Wins over Rhode Island in the Gatorade Rock-N-Roll Shootout, South Florida on ESPN2, Ohio and league-leading Butler provide highlights...Massimino picks up his 450th career victory against Prairie View A & M on Dec. 19, 1998.

1997-98...In Massimino’s second year, Cleveland State wins 12 games and finishes conference play with a 6-8 record (Tied-5th place)...Upset of conference-leading Detroit in regular season finale...Beat Dayton to stop its 10-game home winning streak...The Vikes go 9-4 at the Convocation Center, including a seven-game home winning streak during the season.

1996-97...Coach Massimino inks a four-year contract to become the 12th coach in the history of Cleveland State Men’s Basketball dating to the start of the program in 1929-30 as Fenn College...The Vikings post 9-19 overall and 6-10 (6th place) MCC records...Highlight of the season is CSU’s first-round upset of second-seed Detroit in the MCC’s post-season tournament.

1993-94... In his second season at UNLV, Massimino ends his short stint with the Runnin’ Rebels with a 15-13 overall mark and a fifth place finish in the Big West...The Rebs win five of their final seven games, but do not receive a post-season bid, breaking a 14-year run of post-season tournament action for Massimino.

1992-93... Following 19 years at Villanova, Massimino accepts the task of head man at UNLV...He guides the Runnin’ Rebels to a 21-8 finish and a NIT spot...He won his first six games at UNLV and posted a 13-1 mark to start the year with impressive wins over Marquette, Texas A&M and Georgetown...Future NBA standout J.R. Rider led the team in scoring in 23 games...UNLV posted a 14-2 at home as Massimino recorded his tenth 20+ win campaign.

1991-92...In what turned out to be his final campaign at Villanova, the longtime Wildcats coach led the squad to the NIT and a fourth place finish in the tough Big East...It marked the 13th straight post-season tournament and 15th overall in his 19 years at ‘Nova...The team won its final six regular-season games.

1990-91...Massimino guided the Wildcats to a season opening win over LSU to capture the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Classic and led his squad to the NCAA Tournament...Scored a first-round win over Princeton before losing to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

1989-90...Led the Wildcats to a fifth-place finish in the Big East and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

1988-89...The Wildcats finished with 18 victories en route to a post-season NIT spot...Defeated St. Peter’s and Penn State in the first two rounds of the NIT beforebowing to Michigan State...Posted non-conference wins over Temple, Florida State and Auburn...Recorded his 300th NCAA Division I win with a 76-67 win over Providence on January 4, 1989.

1987-88...A final mark of 24-13 accounted for 37 games, matching the ‘Nova school record for most games played...Advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the fifth time in 11 years...Doug West led the team with a 15.8 scoring average as the ‘Cats scored NCAA wins over Arkansas, Illinois and Kentucky before bowing to Oklahoma.

1986-87...The ‘Cats dipped below .500 at 15-16 for the first time in 11 years, but still gained an NIT berth...Harold Jensen paced the squad with a 15.9 scoring average.

1985-86... One year removed from the NCAA National Championship, Massimino’s squad posted a 23-win season, including 10 victories and third place in the Big East...‘Nova downed Virginia Tech in the NCAA’s before losing to Georgia Tech.

1984-85... NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS The Villanova Wildcats stunned the college basketball world with a 66-64 win over Georgetown and Patrick Ewing to capture the ‘85 NCAA Title...A 25-win season, including a perfect 6-0 run through the tournament field, netted Massimino several National Coach-of-the-Year honors...Forward Ed Pinckney was Voted NCAA Tournament MVP and led the team with a 15.6 scoring average on the year...The 25 wins are a single-season best for Coach Massimino.

1983-84...The Wildcats earned their second consecutive tie for the Big East regular-season crown with a 12-4 conference mark...the 19-12 mark was good for an NCAA bid, where ‘Nova downed Marshall in the first round before losing to Illinois.

1982-83...Coach Massimino posted back-to-back 24-8 campaigns and first-place honors in the Big East...The team advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight...All-America center John Pinone paced the squad in scoring at 16.9 points as he closed out a brilliant four-year career, which saw ‘Nova win 91 games over that span.

1981-82...One of Massimino’s best teams, captured the Big East Title outright with an 11-3 mark and a 24-8 overall slate...Advanced to the Big East Tournament title game...Reached the NCAA Elite Eight with wins over Northeastern and Memphis State.

1980-81...Massimino captured the Sun Bowl Tournament en route to a 20-11 campaign, a Big East Tournament runner-up and NCAA bid...‘Nova downed the Houston Cougars before losing to Virginia.

1979-80...A final mark of 23-8 earned an NCAA bid, led by freshman sensation John Pinone...Massimino guided the team to the Eastern Eight regular-season and tournament titles...Recorded his 100th win with a 93-66 win over St. Francis (PA) on December 28, 1979.

1978-79...Following a pair of 23-win campaigns, the Wildcats dipped to 15-13 and missed post-season play.

1977-78...Massimino posts his best record to date at Villanova with a 23-9 campaign and earns his first NCAA Division I Tournament bid...‘Nova downs Indiana before losing to Duke...It was the school’s first NCAA bid in six years.

1976-77...The rebuilding process begins to show its fruits with a 23-10 season and Massimino’s first-ever post-season NIT bid...Four years after taking over an 11-14 team, he guides the school to 23 victories.

1975-76...Massimino records his first winning season with a 16-11 campaign...The team reaches the ECAC playoffs and is co-champions of Philadelphia’s Big 5.

1974-75...Wins over Ohio State and rival Temple highlight Massimino’s second season at ‘Nova.

1973-74...Following two years as an assistant for Chuck Daly at Penn, Massimino is named head coach at Villanova on November 13, 1973...The team posts a 7-19 mark in his first year.

1972-73...Penn reaches the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in Massimino’s last season as an assistant at Penn...The Quakers take the Ivy League championship, with a 12-2 record, and finish 21-7 overall.

1971-72...Massimino is hired by future NBA and U.S. Olympic head coach Chuck Daly as an assistant coach at Penn...Penn reaches the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament as the Quakers go 25-3 on the season and capture the Ivy League title with a 13-1 mark.

1970-71... A brief two-year stint at Stony Brook ends with Massimino guiding his team to a 15-10 overall record and a 7-2 mark and a second-place finish in conference play.

1969-70...Rollie Massimino begins his collegiate head coaching career at Stony Brook...The team posts an 18-6 season mark and goes perfect 8-0 in taking its conference title...Stony Brook receives an NCAA Tournament bid...They lose to Buffalo State 93-69 in the first round and then drop a 78-70 decision to Hartwick in the consolation round.