April 8, 2010
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Press Conference Transcript
Press Conference Video - Part 1
Press Conference Video - Part 2
Press Conference Video - Part 3
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LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - The search for the next men's basketball head coach at Siena has come to an end. Mitch Buonaguro was named the 15th head men's basketball coach at a 2:30 p.m. press conference at the College today. The top assistant on the Siena staff for the past five years, Buonaguro inherits a team that has won 27 games each of the past two seasons.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at Siena," Buonaguro said. "I want to continue the great success we have achieved the past five years. I believe my passion for the Siena College mission both athletically and academically will be a big part of continuing our success here."
"Mitch [Buonaguro] has a proven record of success as a basketball coach for the last 35 years," Director of Athletics John D'Argenio said. "He fits Siena's core values and mission and we believe he will continue elevating Siena basketball in the national landscape. As we discuss on campus how best to utilize the national success of men's basketball and the value that an elite mid major program brings to the college, Mitch's expertise and experience gives us the chance to continue a very special time in Siena basketball."
Widely regarded as one of the most experienced and respected assistant coaches in the country, Buonaguro has helped guide the Saints to a 112-51 mark since arriving in Loudonville and has been an integral part of three straight MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. Buonaguro takes over a team that matched a program record with 27 wins last season including a MAAC record 17 conference victories.
"Mitch is a well-rounded basketball coach who knows the game, who can teach the game, who can recruit for the game and who can make decisions in the game that will enable his team to succeed," Siena College President Father Kevin Mullen O.F.M. said. "In addition, Mitch has a passion for Siena basketball. He believes in Siena and in its traditions. He will bring student-athletes to Siena who will achieve success on the court and academically. Mitch has my full confidence."
Buonaguro has amassed over 30 years and 1,000 games of Division I coaching experience as both a head and assistant coach. He served as the head coach at fellow MAAC member Fairfield University from 1985-91 where he led the Stags to consecutive MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in his first two seasons. As a result, he was named National Rookie Coach of the Year by Basketball Times and District I Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association and the NABC.
Prior to his appointment at Siena in 2005, Buonaguro had made assistant coaching stops at Boston College (1975-77), Villanova (1977-85), Texas A&M (1991-96), Cleveland State (1996-03) and UNC-Greensboro (2003-05). As an assistant under legendary head coach Rollie Massimino at Villanova, Buonaguro helped guide the Wildcats to the 1985 National Championship.
A 1975 graduate of Boston College, Buonaguro was a four-year point guard of the Eagles basketball team from 1971-75. One of the few individuals to both play in and coach an NCAA Tournament game, Buonaguro scored four points for Boston College in its 1975 NCAA Tournament game against North Carolina. Buonaguro graduated cum laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and in 1977 he received a master's degree in secondary education.
Buonaguro has been inducted into two Hall of Fames. He is part of both the Bishop Loughlin Hall of Fame in Brooklyn, N.Y. and the Five-Star Basketball Camp Hall of Fame.
A native of Queens, N.Y., Buonaguro and his wife Suzin currently reside in nearby Ballston Lake. Their son Michael is a 2009 graduate of Siena.
