Hofstra University Head Women's Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack today announced the appointment of Anthony Crocitto to the position of assistant women's basketball coach, effective immediately. Crocitto completes the 2004-05 Hofstra Women's Basketball staff and replaces Viveca Lof, who resigned in late August.
?œWe are thrilled to have Anthony come home where he belongs. He will bring an array of talents to our women's basketball program, ?œstated Legette-Jack. ?œOne of his many excellent qualities is his love for Hofstra University and in addition, he is committed to bringing the best student-athletes in the country to Hofstra. I truly believe that with the assistance of Carlton (Oliver) and Cherie (Hogg), Anthony can spearhead one of the top recruiting classes in the country. We are excited to have Anthony and his lovely wife Kristin join our Hofstra Basketball family.?ť
Crocitto arrives in Hempstead after spending the past two seasons (2002-04) at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. Crocitto served as the top assistant for the Knights and also was the recruiting coordinator. During his two seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson, Crocitto aided in the development of two-time all-conference and all-metro selection Natallia Marchanka. Crocitto, who also assisted in the academic advisement for the squad, oversaw a team that featured the highest overall cumulative grade point average among Fairleigh Dickinson's 14 teams and the grade point average was fourth in the nation according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
Prior to his stint at Fairleigh Dickinson, Crocitto spent one year as the head women's basketball coach at Mount Ida College in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. In his one season coaching the Mustangs, Crocitto nearly doubled the previous season-high for victories as he led them to 11 wins after Mount Ida had never before won more than six games in a season. It was during that season that the Mustangs made their first-ever postseason appearance, and Crocitto laid the groundwork for future success at Mount Ida as it went on to win its conference and advance to the NCAA Tournament in the two years after he departed for Fairleigh Dickinson.
No stranger to the Long Island area, Crocitto spent the first four years of his collegiate coaching career at Dowling College in Oakdale, New York. From 1996-97, he was an assistant coach with the women's basketball program and then moved on to the head coaching spot in 1998 and served in that capacity until 2000. The Golden Lions won their first-ever postseason game under Crocitto's direction and went 16-10 in his final season there. During his tenure the team cumulative grade point average rose from 2.5 to 3.3 and half of the student-athletes he recruited went on to earn all-conference accolades during their careers.
Crocitto makes his return to Hofstra after graduating from the University in 1995 with a degree in management. Crocitto and his wife, Kristin, reside in Copiague, New York.
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