| Title: | Assistant Coach |
| Organization: | Men's Basketball |
| Phone: | (617) 495-3920 |
| Email: | bdestef@fas.harvard.edu |
| College: | Duke 2005 |
| Experience: | Sixth Season |
Brian DeStefano returns to Harvard for his sixth season with the
Crimson in 2012-13.
At Harvard, DeStefano is responsible for the team's post players
and coordinates opponent scouting. During his tenure, he has helped
Harvard win 20 games four straight seasons, as well as three
consecutive Ivy League crowns and berths in the NCAA tournament in
each of the last two campaigns.
During the 2009-10 season, DeStefano served as the team's recruiting coordinator, and still maintains a strong role in that area. He also handles much of the logistics around the Crimson basketball team including film breakdown and video analysis. DeStefano also coordinates the Basketball Academy at Harvard as well as the Harvard Basketball Coaches Clinic.
The Crimson was even better during the 2010-11 campaign, as Harvard won a program-record 23 games and earned a share of its first Ivy title, going 12-2 in league play. The Crimson was rewarded with a berth in the NIT for the first time in school history. Four Crimson players earned All-Ivy selections, including starting postmen Keith Wright and Kyle Casey. Wright highlighted the All-Ivy selections, being named Ivy Player of the Year and unanimous first team All-Ivy after averaging 14.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest. Wright was also honored as an All-American by the Associated Press.
In 2011-12, DeStefano helped guide Harvard to its second straight Ivy League title, as well as the team's first appearance in the NCAA tournament since 1946. The Crimson broke the school record for victories (26) for the third straight season and the team was ranked as high as No. 21 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, as well as No. 22 in the AP poll. Harvard also won the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament and three players received All-Ivy League honors, including the starting frontcourt: Keith Wright and Kyle Casey.
DeStefano came to Harvard from Duke University where he had most recently served as graduate assistant/head team manager for the men's basketball team under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. As a graduate assistant, DeStefano was responsible for film breakdown and exchange, scouting of opponents and player development. He also managed the scheduling of community service opportunities for players. In his first year on the Blue Devils' staff, Duke won the 2006 ACC regular season and tournament championships.
A 2005 Duke graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in political science, DeStefano completed his masters in the same field in 2007.
While a student at Duke, DeStefano spent four years as a manager for the Blue Devils. In 2005 he was awarded the team's Gopal Varadhan Senior Manager Award. As a manager, DeStefano assisted with the day-to-day operations of the basketball program, and also served as the program's film exchange coordinator. He was a member of the 2004 team that advanced to the Final Four. He was also a part of the 2002, 2003 and 2005 ACC Tournament champions.
During his time at Duke, DeStefano had the opportunity to work with current NBA players Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Mike Dunleavy, JJ Redick, Shelden Williams, Dahntay Jones, Chris Duhon, Gerald Henderson, and Josh McRoberts.
In addition to his team duties, DeStefano has worked a number of basketball camps including Coach K's Basketball Camp as an assistant to the director, the St. John's (Washington, D.C.) Basketball Camp, The K Academy Fantasy Camp and the Eastern Invitational Basketball Camp held at The College of New Jersey.
DeStefano is a graduate of St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C. where he played basketball for his father, legendary high school coach Paul DeStefano.
