Dan Mazzulla

Daniel E. Mazzulla Jr. (May 29, 1958 – April 22, 2020) was an American basketball player and coach.

Dan Mazzulla
Personal information
Born(1958-05-29)May 29, 1958
DiedApril 22, 2020(2020-04-22) (aged 61)
Johnston, Rhode Island
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolJohnston (Johnston, Rhode Island)
CollegeBryant (1976–1980)
NBA draft1980 / Undrafted
Playing career1980–1985
PositionSmall forward
Career history
As coach:
1989–2011Johnston HS (girls)

Mazzulla attended Johnston Senior High School in Johnston, Rhode Island, where he led the team to two Suburban Division championships in 1974 and 1975 as well as a runner-up finish in 1976. He was named to the second-team All-State selection in 1976 and was a three-time all-league selection.[1] Mazzulla became a standout in college at Bryant, leading the team to two NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 1976 to 1980.[2] As a junior, he averaged 16.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game and was named to the Sacred Heart Classic All-Tourney team. He became a team captain as a senior.[3] Mazzulla finished with 1,390 points, which is 10th all time, and 761 rebounds, fourth all-time.[2]

After he graduated, Mazzulla played professionally for five years in Chile. He coached boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer and track at Johnston High School, and was an assistant volleyball coach at the high school. Mazzulla led the girls basketball team to Division II titles in 1998, 2000 and 2002.[1] In 2003, Mazzulla became the Johnston Parks and Recreation Director.[2] He would frequently hire players he coached for part-time positions in the recreation department. As a coach, Mazzulla was known for embracing a tough brand of basketball that emphasized players reaching their potential.[4]

In 2007, Mazzulla was inducted into the Bryant Hall of Fame.[5] He retired as head coach of the Johnston girls' basketball team in 2011, citing his heavy workload and travel schedule.[6] Mazzulla was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2019 but continued coaching his grandson's recreation basketball team. His family established the "Team Danny" foundation to raise funds for cancer research.[7] Mazzulla retired as recreation director on January 1, 2020.[8] He died of cancer on April 22, 2020. Mazzulla had three children: Joe, an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics; Justin, who plays at Vermont; and Gianna, who played under her father at Johnston.[9]

References
  1. McGair, Brendan (April 30, 2020). "The Legacy of Dan Mazzulla Transcends Sports". Yurview. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  2. Souza, Scott (April 23, 2020). "Johnston's Dan Mazzulla Remembered For Dedicaton To His Athletes". Patch.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  3. "Basketball Prospectus, 1979-80". Bryant University. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. Sponseller, Alex (May 1, 2020). "Mazzulla leaves lasting legacy as coach, community leader". Warwick Beacon. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  5. Hurd, Beth (February 22, 2007). "Mazzulla inducted to Hall of Fame". Johnstonsunrise.net. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  6. "After 22 years, Dan Mazzulla leaves the court". Johnstonsunrise.net. February 18, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. Kourakis, Yianni (April 22, 2020). "Long time Johnston Parks and Rec Director Dan Mazzulla dies". WPRI. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  8. "Basketball Legend Daniel E. Mazzulla, Jr. Passes". GoLocalProv. April 23, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. Koch, Bill (April 23, 2020). "R.I. loses 2 legendary hoops coaches". Providence Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
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