Roc on: new coach fulfills hoops dream (Roccaforte)
Steve Roccaforte ’89, who has served the last three seasons on Billy Tubbs’ coaching staff and was the program’s recruiting coordinator, has become Lamar University’s ninth head coach since LU became a four-year institution in 1951.
One day after stepping down as head coach to focus his energy on the director of athletics post, Billy Tubbs didn’t have to look far and didn’t waste any time in announcing
his replacement. Cards Assistant Coach Steve Roccaforte was essentially hand-picked by Tubbs three years earlier to become the Cardinals’ next basketball coach.
“Steve knows the tradition and has a genuine passion for Lamar basketball because he grew up with it,” Tubbs said in introducing Roccaforte March 21. “I believe he has a great future and will continue to take Lamar basketball to our expectation level of where the program should be on a yearly basis.”
Roccaforte brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the job. He was listed as one of the top four assistant coaches ready to take over their own program according to Dan Wetzel of CBS Sportsline.com and was voted the seventh-best assistant coach in the country by Basketball
Times for the 2002-03 season. As reported by recruiting analyst Dave Telep, Roccaforte is one of the 25 hardest-working coaches in the nation as well as one of the top 15 recruiters in the country.
“This is an unbelievable day for me, and I would like to thank Dr. (James) Simmons, Coach Tubbs and Mr. (Paul) Zeek for their role in giving me this opportunity,” Roccaforte said. “This is the job I’ve always coveted. I went to every Lamar game I could growing up. I’m just really excited and look forward to continuing the proud tradition of Lamar basketball.
“I believe we have a solid foundation already in place to build upon. I’ll continue to work hard in recruiting the best possible student-athletes so we can contend for a conference championship on a yearly basis. Our goal is to win conference championships. We not only want to make NCAA Tournament appearances, but win a game or two once we get there. I believe that is a realistic goal for this program and is one we will strive to attain.”
Roccaforte has worked for several high-profile coaches as an assistant and was quick to give credit to each one of them in advancing his career to the point of becoming a head coach. He plans to draw on the experiences each has provided him as he embarks on his own head-coaching career.
“It’s been a great honor and a tremendous experience in working for coach Tubbs the last three years,” Roccaforte said. “I’ve been fortunate to observe him and how he handles everything from relationships with players to officials. I definitely feel I have grown as a coach and a person and am better equipped to become a head coach.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for some great head coaches in John Calipari (Memphis), Steve McClain (Wyoming) and Perry Clark (Tulane). They have all contributed in some way in helping me get to this point. They all gave me the opportunity to learn how to work in this business and become a better coach.”
During his career, Roccaforte recruited such players as Dajuan Wagner (Cleveland Cavaliers), Qyntel Woods (Portland Trailblazers), Amare Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns) and Kendrick Perkins (Boston Celtics).
In three years at Memphis, Roccaforte helped the Tigers advance to the NIT final four in 2001, won the NIT championship in 2002 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 for the first time in seven years.
Prior to his time at Memphis, Roccaforte spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the Wyoming staff (1998-2000). The Cowboys were 37-22 during his tenure, which included a trip to the NIT.
Before heading to Wyoming, Roccaforte worked at Tulane, where he coordinated the Green Wave’s recruiting activities. During his four years at Tulane, the Wave posted three consecutive 20-win seasons (1994-98). The Green Wave advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 1995, the NIT Final Four in 1996 and a second NIT appearance in 1997.
Prior to coaching stints at Tulane, and Wyoming, Roccaforte was an assistant coach at Centenary College for five seasons (1989-94). Centenary won its first TAAC regular-season championship during his tenure.
Having built a reputation nationally as one of the best recruiters in the country and a fine on-the-court coach, Roccaforte returned to his alma mater in June 2003. He prepped at Port Arthur Thomas Jefferson High School and served as a student assistant three years while earning a bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree in 1989.
Roccaforte, 40, and his wife, Tina, have a daughter, Victoria Elise, 9, and a son, Lucien Anthony, 6.
