Stephan Thomas Lappas (born March 18, 1954) is an American former college basketball coach. He coached at Manhattan (1988–1992), Villanova (1992–2001) and UMass (2001–2005), compiling a 280–237 (.542) record over a 17-year coaching career. He is currently a basketball color commentator and studio analyst for CBS Sports.
 Lappas announces a game for the CBS Sports Network on February 21, 2016. | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 18, 1954 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1972–1977 | CCNY |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1977–1978 | York College (CUNY) (assistant) |
| 1978–1979 | Fort Lee HS (assistant) |
| 1979–1984 | Harry S. Truman HS |
| 1984–1988 | Villanova (assistant) |
| 1988–1992 | Manhattan |
| 1992–2001 | Villanova |
| 2001–2005 | UMass |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 280–237 (college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| NIT (1994) Big East regular season (1997) Big East tournament (1995) MAAC regular season (1992) | |
| Awards | |
| MAAC Coach of the Year (1992) | |
Biography
editEducation
editLappas graduated from Bronx High School of Science in 1972, where he was sixth man on its 1971 city championship team and a starter as a prep senior. He went on to the City College of New York, where he was a three-year letterwinner in basketball and served as the team's captain in his junior season. He graduated in 1977 with a bachelor's degree in primary education.[1]
Coaching career
editIn 1977, Lappas started coaching at York College, City University of New York as a volunteer, and moved to Fort Lee High School the next year, becoming an assistant. After one season, he assumed his first head coaching job with Harry S. Truman High School (in The Bronx), staying there through 1984.[1] Lappas fashioned a 91–32 record,[2] and was named New York Daily News Coach of the Year twice (1981 and 1984).[3] Harry S. Truman High School won a New York State Class A championship under Lappas in the 1983–84 season, during which it was 27–3.[1] In 1984 Lappas joined Rollie Massimino's staff at Villanova University.[4]
Head coach
editIn 1988 Lappas became head coach at Manhattan College,[2] where he turned around the program from a 7–21 season in 1988–89 to a 25–9 season and a berth to the 3rd round of the NIT in 1992.[1] In 1992, he succeeded Rollie Massimino as head coach at Villanova,[5] where he guided the team to seven postseason tournament appearances (four NCAA, three NIT),[6] posting an 8–6 record and winning the 1994 National Invitation Tournament.[1] In 2001, he resigned as head coach after Villanova declined to sign him for a long-term contract due to multiple years of poor recruiting, and a subsequent lack of success in the postseason. He became head coach of the University of Massachusetts on March 26, 2001.[1] In four seasons at UMass, the Minutemen struggled under Lappas, and finished with a record of 50–65. His contract was not renewed and he was let go on March 14, 2005.[7]
Head coaching record
editCollege
edit| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Jaspers (Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) (1988–1992) | |||||||||
| 1988–89 | Manhattan | 7–21 | 3–11 | 7th | |||||
| 1989–90 | Manhattan | 11–17 | 7–9 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1990–91 | Manhattan | 13–15 | 8–8 | 5th | |||||
| 1991–92 | Manhattan | 25–9 | 13–3 | 1st | NIT third round | ||||
| Manhattan: | 56–62 | 31–31 | |||||||
| Villanova Wildcats (Big East Conference) (1992–2001) | |||||||||
| 1992–93 | Villanova | 8–19 | 3–15 | 10th | |||||
| 1993–94 | Villanova | 20–12 | 10–8 | T–4th | NIT champion | ||||
| 1994–95 | Villanova | 25–8 | 14–4 | 2nd | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
| 1995–96 | Villanova | 26–7 | 14–4 | 2nd (BE 6) | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
| 1996–97 | Villanova | 24–10 | 12–6 | T–1st (BE 6) | NCAA Division I Round of 32 | ||||
| 1997–98 | Villanova | 12–17 | 8–10 | 4th (BE 6) | |||||
| 1998–99 | Villanova | 21–11 | 10–8 | T–4th | NCAA Division I Round of 64 | ||||
| 1999–00 | Villanova | 20–13 | 8–8 | T–6th | NIT second round | ||||
| 2000–01 | Villanova | 18–13 | 8–8 | T–3rd | NIT first round | ||||
| Villanova: | 174–110 | 87–71 | |||||||
| UMass Minutemen (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2001–2005) | |||||||||
| 2001–02 | UMass | 13–16 | 6–10 | 4th (East) | |||||
| 2002–03* | UMass | 11–18 | 6–10 | 4th (East) | |||||
| 2003–04 | UMass | 10–19 | 4–12 | 4th (East) | |||||
| 2004–05 | UMass | 16–12 | 9–7 | 3rd (East) | |||||
| UMass: | 50–65 | 25–39 | |||||||
| Total: | 280–237 | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
* A-10 record includes a forfeit victory vs. St. Bonaventure, but season's overall win total does not include it.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Minutemen Select Steve Lappas as Head Basketball Coach". University of Massachusetts. March 26, 2001. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ a b "Sports People; Manhattan's Choice". The New York Times. May 12, 1988. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Men's Basketball: Steve Lappas". Villanova University. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Bennerman, Wildcats' Jones in race for NIT scoring record". The Daily Gazette. March 30, 1994. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Lappas Hired to Replace Massimino". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. April 15, 1992. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "Colleges Men's Basketball; Lappas Resigns At Villanova". The New York Times. March 25, 2001. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ "UMass Announces Lappas' Contract Will Not Be Extended". University of Massachusetts. March 14, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2010.