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Richard Jacob
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Richard L. Jacob (born September 24, 1958) is an American basketball coach and educator. He is currently sport management consultant for Villa Maria College.
Key Information
Jacob led two teams to the ABA playoffs at the professional level, including an appearance in the ABA Final Four. He won an NEAC championship at the collegiate level, and has been awarded Coach of the Year honors by both NEAC and NJCAA. For his work at Medaille College, he was named NSCAA Athletic Director of the Year. At the high school level he captured the New York State Class A championship, multiple CHSAA championships, and was awarded Centercourt Coach of the Year.
Jacob was head coach of New York State's Western Region team, leading them to a silver medal in the Empire State Games.
Early life
[edit]Richard L. Jacob was born on September 24, 1958, in Niagara Falls, New York, son of Angeline (née Pullo) and restaurateur Joseph Jacob.[1]
He graduated from Niagara Catholic High School in 1976, where he played basketball and was teammates with Scott Layden.[2][3] Jacob graduated from Niagara County Community College with an associate's degree in arts and social sciences, playing for their 1977–78 men's basketball team which fell one game shy of a perfect season after losing the 1978 NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.[4][5][6]
Jacob then graduated from Eisenhower College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, later obtaining master's degrees in educational counseling and physical education at Niagara University and Canisius College, respectively.[4][7] He went on to receive his Doctor of Philosophy in counselor education from University at Buffalo.[7]
Coaching career
[edit]Jacob began his basketball coaching career as head coach of the junior varsity squad at La Salle High School.[2] He began his college coaching career at Niagara University as graduate assistant coach under Pete Lonergan in 1981.[8] He was head coach of Daemen College for their 1982–83 campaign.[9] Jacob then served as assistant coach for University at Buffalo under Dan Bazzani from 1983 to 1987.[5]
Jacob returned to Daemen College as head coach in 1987, replacing Nate Bliss mid-season.[10] He left that job to become athletic director and head coach of Villa Maria College, where he was named NJCAA Penn-York Conference Coach of the Year for 1989–90 after leading the team to a 12–6 record.[11] Jacob was head coach for the Western Region team of the Empire State Games from 1987 to 1990, leading his 1989 squad that included Duke University star Christian Laettner to a silver medal.[12][13] In 1993, he became head coach at Niagara County Community College.[5]
Jacob was hired as athletic director of Medaille College in 1995, and was named 1996–97 NSCAA Athletic Director of the Year after expanding their program from one sport to twelve.[14] Jacob coached Medaille College from 1996 to 2004, with his 2003–04 team claiming the NEAC championship.[15][16] He was consequently named 2003–04 NEAC Coach of the Year.[17] Jacob served as assistant coach of Buffalo State College under Dick Bihr during their 2004–05 season.[18]
In their inaugural season, Jacob coached the 2005–06 Buffalo Rapids to an American Basketball Association playoff berth.[19] He left before their second season to focus on his teaching career at Medaille College.[20] Jacob returned to the Rapids organization in 2008 (now renamed the Buffalo Sharks) and coached the team to an exhibition victory over the Italy men's national basketball team.[21] After being named head coach and general manager for the Buffalo Stampede of the Premier Basketball League, he resigned before their 2009 season began.[22][23] He served as assistant coach for Erie Community College under Alexander Nwora from 2010 to 2017, winning consecutive NJCAA Region III championships in 2010–11 and 2011–12.[2][24]
Jacob was head coach of The Park School of Buffalo from 2017 to 2021, with his 2017–18 squad winning the New York State Class A championship, and consecutive CHSAA Class A titles in 2017–18 and 2018–19.[25] He was named 2017–18 Centercourt Coach of the Year.[26]
In their inaugural season, Jacob coached the 2023–24 Buffalo eXtreme to an American Basketball Association playoff berth.[27][28] He then led the 2024–25 Buffalo eXtreme to an ABA Final Four appearance in his final season with the club.[29]
Personal life
[edit]Jacob is married to educator Rebecca Frandina and they have two children.[30] His brother Matthew Jacob is a member of the Niagara Sports Hall of Fame.[31][32]
He has worked as a special education counselor for BOCES and as a volunteer for the Special Olympics.[33][34]
Jacob is godfather to National Basketball Association player Jordan Nwora.[35] He serves on the Board of Directors for the Jordan Nwora Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to teaching children the game of basketball.[36][37]
In 2017 he authored John Tavares: Soul to the Goal, a biography of the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame inductee.[7]
Head coaching record
[edit]ABA
[edit]| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Rapids | 2005–06 | 28 | 11 | 17 | .392 | 3rd in Connie Hawkins | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost in Quarterfinals |
| Buffalo eXtreme | 2023–24 | 19 | 15 | 4 | .789 | 2nd in White | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost in Division Finals |
| Buffalo eXtreme | 2024–25 | 19 | 18 | 1 | .944 | 1st in White | 5 | 4 | 1 | .800 | Lost in League Semifinals |
| Career: | 66 | 44 | 22 | .667 | 9 | 6 | 3 | .666 | |||
College
[edit]| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daemen Warriors (Independent) (1982–1983) | |||||||||
| 1982–83 | Daemen | 3–14 | |||||||
| Daemen: | 3–14 (.176) | ||||||||
| Daemen Warriors (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) (1987–1989) | |||||||||
| 1987–88 | Daemen | 4–9 | |||||||
| 1988–89 | Daemen | 15–14 | |||||||
| Daemen: | 19–23 (.452) | ||||||||
| Villa Maria Vikings (National Junior College Athletic Association) (1989–1990) | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | Villa Maria | 22–12 | 12–6 | 2nd | NJCAA Region III Runner-up | ||||
| 1990–91 | Villa Maria | 17–10 | 9–9 | ||||||
| Villa Maria: | 39–22 (.639) | 21–15 (.583) | |||||||
| NCCC Trailblazers (National Junior College Athletic Association) (1993–1995) | |||||||||
| 1993–94 | NCCC | 3–19 | |||||||
| 1994–95 | NCCC | 7–21 | |||||||
| NCCC: | 10–40 (.200) | ||||||||
| Medaille Mavericks (National Small College Athletic Association) (1996–1998) | |||||||||
| 1996–97 | Medaille | 20–10 | NSCAA (3rd place) | ||||||
| 1997–98 | Medaille | 14–16 | NSCAA (5th place) | ||||||
| Medaille: | 34–26 (.567) | ||||||||
| Medaille Mavericks (North Eastern Athletic Conference) (1998–2004) | |||||||||
| 1998–99 | Medaille | 12–14 | |||||||
| 1999–00 | Medaille | 18–12 | |||||||
| 2000–01 | Medaille | 5–20 | |||||||
| 2001–02 | Medaille | 3–22 | |||||||
| 2002–03 | Medaille | 6–20 | 4–4 | 4th | NEAC Semifinalist | ||||
| 2003–04 | Medaille | 10–17 | 6–2 | T–1st | NEAC Champion | ||||
| Medaille: | 59–105 (.360) | 10–6 (.625) | |||||||
| Total: | 164–230 (.416) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
High school
[edit]| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park School Pioneers (Monsignor Martin Athletic Association) (2017–2019) | |||||||||
| 2017–18 | Park School | 25–5 | 11–2 | 1st | New York State Class A champion CHSAA Class A champion | ||||
| 2018–19 | Park School | 25–3 | 12–0 | 1st | CHSAA Class A champion | ||||
| Park School Pioneers (NYSPHSAA Section VI Independent) (2019–2020) | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Park School | 18–6 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
| Total: | 68–14 (.829) | ||||||||
Coaching tree
[edit]Assistant coaches under Jacob who became collegiate or professional head coaches
- Alexander Nwora – ECC (1999–present), Cape Verde (2009–2013), Nigeria (2017–2019)
- Pete Lonergan – Medaille women (2003–2014)
- Dick Hack – Medaille (2004–2006), SUNY Maritime (2010–2012)
- Trevor Ruffin – Buffalo Silverbacks (2006–2007)
References
[edit]- ^ "Joseph Jacob Obituary (2009)". Legacy.com. October 9, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ a b c Rodriguez, Miguel (August 18, 2017). "Park names Rich Jacob as boys basketball coach". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Brady, Erik (December 7, 1997). "LAST LAUGH FRANK LAYDEN AND HIS SON LEARNED THEIR CRAFT IN NIAGARA FALLS. NOW THEY RUNONE OF THE NBA'S TOP FRANCHISES". Buffalo News. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Buffalo Criterion 17 March 1988". The NYS Historic Newspapers. March 17, 1988. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c Harrington, Mike (September 17, 1993). "JACOB TAKES JOB AS NIAGARA COUNTY CC BASKETBALL COACH AFTER MCCORRY RESIGNS". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "NCCC Men's Basketball 40th Reunion". Niagara County Community College. May 1, 2020. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Richard L. Jacob | Medaille University". www.medaille.edu. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Sullivan, Jerry (November 16, 2003). "'LUCKY' LONERGAN RETURNS TO COACHING WITH MEDAILLE WOMEN". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ "Summit 1983 80". New York Heritage. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ Gaughan, Mark (November 3, 1989). "CANISIUS ENDS SEASON AGAINST TOUGH ALFRED BUFFALO STATE IS AT WESTMINSTER". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "PRESCOTT FINISHES 5TH IN WRESTLING". Buffalo News. March 25, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Harrington, Mike (August 7, 1989). "WESTERN COMEBACK FALLS SHORT BY LAETTNER MISS". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "THREE LOCAL UNDERCLASSMEN LEAD CAGERS". Buffalo News. July 24, 1990. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "MEDAILLE'S JACOB EARNS NATIONAL HONOR". Buffalo News. May 28, 1997. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ Anhalt, Laura (June 12, 2008). "Buffalo Welcomes Back Professional Basketball". Buffalo Rising. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "Men's Basketball". Medaille University Athletics. August 16, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "MEDAILLE CLAIMS TITLE; ECC WINS REGIONAL". Buffalo News. March 1, 2004. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
- ^ Wilson, Allen (February 20, 2005). "BIHR'S REPLACEMENT AT BUFFALO STATE COULD BE ON CAMPUS". Buffalo News. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
- ^ McKissic, Rodney (April 26, 2005). "RAPIDS HIRE JACOB AS COACH". Buffalo News. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ Beutel, Nate (November 1, 2006). "SILVERBACKS: Jacob steps down as coach unexpectedly". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ McKissic, Rodney (June 24, 2008). "Makeshift Buffalo stars beat Italians Ugboja, Rainey lead scoring". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
- ^ "BASKETBALL: Jacob resigns as coach of Buffalo hoops team". Niagara Gazette. December 16, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2009.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Alex Nwora". Erie CC. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "Mayor Brown Honors the Park School Boys Varsity Basketball Team for a Successful Season". Buffalo, NY. March 27, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
- ^ "Buffalo News/BCANY Awards for boys basketball". Buffalo News. April 24, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- ^ "Welcome to the team, Coach Jacob!". Twitter. August 7, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ "Buffalo eXtreme adavances to ABA Playoffs". The View From Centercourt. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
- ^ Pascucci, Gianni (April 7, 2025). "Chicago Fury wins ABA 2025 title". US Basketball. Retrieved April 9, 2025.
- ^ "Buffalo Rapids name Richard L. Jacob GM and Head Coach". OurSports Central. May 14, 2005. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
- ^ Beutel, Nate (December 7, 2007). "BOYS BASKETBALL: Cataract Classic alive and well". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Sabato, Nick (October 22, 2023). "Niagara Falls Sports Hall of Fame honors nine new inductees". Niagara Gazette. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Daemen Appointments". Response, 1966-1993. 8 (1). June 1988. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ "The Spirit 1 November 1993". The NYS Historic Newspapers. November 1, 1993. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
- ^ Lerner, Danielle (December 16, 2019). "Jordan Nwora's decision to return to Louisville is paying off all over". The Athletic. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
- ^ Jordan Nwora foundation (February 26, 2007). "Jordan Nwora foundation". Jordan Nwora foundation. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
- ^ Hricik, Madison (July 31, 2022). "Alex Nwora, Jordan Nwora help expand sport of basketball, give back to communities". Buffalo News. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
External links
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