Coach Rocco is entering ninth season for the Flyers, fourth as the Associate Head Coach.
In his nine seasons with the Flyers, Rocco has helped lead the Men’s Basketball program to the following; a number one overall seed in the 2019 GLVC Tourney, a national ranking of 15th in the NABC Division II poll (’19), a nationally ranking of 7th in the D2SIDA Media polls (’19), the 2019 GLVC Regular Season Conference Championship (first time since 2004), a Midwest Region number one seed, the 2021 GLVC Conference championship, a GLVC East Division Championship in ’22, and another GLVC championship game appearance in ’24, and three NCAA tournament births.
Coach Rocco has guided our student athletes off the court while developing their skill sets on it. All conference players during his tenure here include; Cris Wilson's All-GLVC First Team selection (2018). Delaney Blaylock's Second Team All-GLVC selection and First Team All-GLVC selection (2018. 2019). Adam Pischke's Second Team GLVC selection (2019). Kendale McCullum's First Team All-GLVC selection, GLVC Player of the Year, GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, NABC All-Midwest Region, and NABC All-American (2019). Anthony Davanzo’s Second Team GLVC selection (2020). Artese Stapleton’s All Freshman team, and GLVC tournament MVP (2020. 2021). Connor Niego’s first team all GLVC and All Midwest Region Award (2022). Bruno William’s Second Team All-GLVC selection (2022). Beau Frericks’ Second Team and First Team All-GLVC selections (2022. 2023). Ryan Renfro’s All Freshman Team and Second Team All-GLVC selections (2023. 2024). Paxton Warden’s Second Team All-GLVC selection (2024). Rob Stroud’s First Team All-GLVC selection, and Second Team All-Region selections (2024).
Over the span of his eight seasons with the Flyers, Rocco has recruited over 10 players that have transferred into LEWIS from the division one level or developed and left the program to go to the division one level. Transfers out of the program were recruited by Division one schools such as Southern Illinois, DePaul, Drake, Toledo, UW-GB, Radford, Eastern Illinois, NC State, and Duquesne.
During his 8 seasons, Coach Rocco has seen three GLVC conference championships and has been a part of Scott Trost’s GLVC Coach Of The Year honors twice. Coach Rocco has had eight players go on to play professional basketball out of Lewis in leagues ranging from the NBA to first through third Euro divisions overseas.
Prior to Lewis, Rocco spent four seasons as the assistant to the late, legendary prep basketball coach Gene Pingatore at nationally renowned St. Joseph's in Westchester, Ill. During his tenure with Coach Pingatore, St. Joseph's won two Chicago Catholic League championships, three regional championships, two sectional championships, two State Finals appearances - including the 2015 IHSA State Championship.
Coach Rocco has also served as a head coach and lead skills trainer for the Chicago LockDown AAU program. While there, LockDown's 17U team advanced to three Final Fours, won two tournament titles and were invited into the first NY2LA Association League.
Rocco has mentored, trained, and coached many players during his career and over 20 of them have received collegiate scholarships to schools including Northwestern, Wright State, Drake, Nebraska, Illinois, USC, Colorado State, Holy Cross, Vanderbilt, West Texas, McNeese State and Indiana.
Coach Rocco played for Keith Bunkenburg at Benedictine University before starting his coaching journey in 2010 at Nazareth Academy. He also holds a certification in training to go along with his nutritional background.
