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Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few knew who he wanted to turn to when he had a position to fill on his staff, naming Ray Giacoletti an assistant coach in April, 2007. Giacoletti (4-14-62) is no stranger to Gonzaga or the Pacific Northwest. A native of Peoria, Ill., Giacoletti went 69-50 in four seasons at Eastern Washington University, the best mark of any coach in the school's NCAA Division I history. He led the Eagles to their inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance in 2004, as well as the Big Sky Conference regular-season and tournament titles. In each of Giacoletti's first three years the Eagles placed second in the Big Sky during the regular season and advanced to the tournament championship game. In 2002-03, Giacoletti led EWU to the NIT for the program's first postseason bid since 1947 when it was a NAIA member. Named the 2004 Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year, Giacoletti directed EWU to a 17-13 overall record and an 11-3 mark in conference play. The Eagles won 14 of their last 18 games - including 11 straight victories for the school's longest winning streak in 21 years as a NCAA Division I member - on their way to winning the Big Sky Tournament. The Eagles battled back from a halftime deficit to defeat Northern Arizona 71-59 in the championship game. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, EWU fell to eventual Final Four participant Oklahoma State University after playing the Cowboys to a 36-36 draw after one half. Giacoletti led EWU to 41-17 record in Big Sky Conference games for a .707 winning percentage that was seventh best in the 41-year history of the league. He ranked ahead of such coaches as Don Monson, Mike Montgomery, Tim Floyd and Larry Eustachy. Giacoletti's players were named first team all-conference 10 times. Alvin Snow was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American in 2003-04. He won his 100th game as a college head coach when the Eagles beat Idaho State 76-67 on March 11, 2003. Following his success at EWU Giacoletti assumed the reigns at Utah on March 31, 2004. Giacoletti led the 2005 Utes to a 29-6 record, tying the third-most wins in a season in school history. He also had the best record among NCAA Division I first-year head coaches. Utah claimed the Mountain West Conference regular-season championship outright and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. As a result, Giacoletti was named the NABC District 13, USBWA District 8, and Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year. Sophomore center Andrew Bogut became Utah's inaugural consensus national Player of the Year, winning the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith, National Association of Basketball Coaches and Associated Press Player of the Year honors. After starting out 5-3, the Utes reeled off 18 consecutive wins to tie the second-longest winning streak in school history. Utah also achieved two other milestones by recording the 10th 25-win season in school annals and winning its 11th regular-season conference championship in the last 15 years to continue the nation's best run over that period. The Runnin' Utes won the MWC title with the best record in the league's six-year history at 13-1. Giacoletti then directed the Utes to the championship game of the MWC Tournament. It marked the fifth straight season that Giacoletti led his team (Utah or EWU) to the conference tournament title game. He then became the first rookie coach to lead Utah to the NCAA Tournament. The sixth-seeded Utes defeated UTEP (60-54) and third-seeded Oklahoma (67-58) to advance to the program's first NCAA Sweet 16 appearance since 1998. Utah fell to Kentucky 62-52 in the Austin Regional semifinals. After cracking the Top 25 on Jan. 24, Utah was ranked the last nine weeks of the season and finished No. 14 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll and No. 18 in the Associated Press poll. Giacoletti went 54-40 in his three years at Utah. Giacoletti's first head coaching job was a three-year stint (1997-2000) at NCAA Division II North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., where he went 48-33. His teams finished with a winning record all three years, including an 18-9 record in 1997-98. His 10-year record as a head coach is 171-123. Before becoming a head coach, Giacoletti was an assistant for four years at both Illinois State University (1989-93) and the University of Washington (1993-97) under Bob Bender. Washington was 16-12 and 17-10 with NIT appearances in Giacoletti's final two years. He was pivotal in assembling the school's 1994 recruiting class that was rated among the top 20 in the nation. At ISU he helped lead the Redbirds to the 1990 NCAA Tournament and three Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships. Giacoletti graduated from Minot State University in North Dakota with a degree in physical education in 1985. He was a 4-year letterman, started three seasons and served as team captain twice. He got his start in coaching as a student assistant coach at Minot State in 1984-85 while he finished his degree. Giacoletti was a graduate assistant coach at Western Illinois University in 1985-86. He was an assistant at Oral Roberts University in 1986-87. Giacoletti moved on to the professional ranks as an assistant coach and director of player personnel for the Fresno Flames of the World Basketball League from 1987-89. While he was in Fresno, Giacoletti was also a regional college scout for the Seattle Sonics. "Ray brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this program," Few said. "He has done a great job as both a head coach and assistant coach at the Division 1 level and that's why there was no hesitation to pursue Ray to be a part of this staff. He's excited about returning to this area and we're excited he has accepted this opportunity to become a Zag." Giacolett married the former Kim Lankford in 1994. |
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