Dan Hurley saw a little of himself in Chris Alesi. Like Hurley, he grew up in a basketball family, playing for his dad, Jack, at Xaverian and coaching under him as soon as he graduated from Baruch College.
When he attended Xaverian workouts last year to recruit standout Brian Bernardi, the Wagner College men’s basketball coach saw even more similarities.
“I was impressed with his ability to teach and interact with players,” Hurley said. “How crisp and sharp workouts were really stood out.”
Hurley played for a legend himself in Bob Hurley Sr. at St. Anthony of Jersey City, went on to Seton Hall and built St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) into a national powerhouse before taking the job at Wagner last summer. Naturally, when a spot opened up on the Wagner staff, Hurley reached out to the 28-year-old Alesi, who was officially named director of basketball operations on Wednesday.
“We’re fortunate to have him come in and be a part of what we do,” Hurley said of Alesi, who replaces Scott Smith, recently elevated to an assistant coach when Luke Murray left for a job at Towson.
Leaving Xaverian wasn’t easy for Alesi, though he is actually now much closer to his Staten Island home as Wagner is around the corner from his house. The Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Catholic school has been his home for his entire life.
“In one sense it was tough, but at the very same time, I don’t think opportunities like this come along very often – to go to a place that for all intents and purposes is a perfect fit,” he said. “I wouldn’t leave Xaverian for 99 percent of all college jobs. But to go with Dan Hurley, go to Wagner, a place near I grew up, that was the enticing part of it.”
Jack Alesi said he will miss having his son around dearly, but not as much as his players. Chris Alesi, who his father described as one of the top point guards he ever coached, handled much of the recruiting aspect for the current Clippers. The 2011 and 2012 class will send seven players – Manny Thomas (Marist), Travis Gill (College of St. Rose), Brian Bernardi (uncommitted), Dillon Burns (C.W. Post) Vinny Dacunto (Baruch College) and Greg Civiletti (Dowling College) – to college on full scholarships, the most in Jack Alesi’s long tenure.
“I attribute that to Chris,” Jack Alesi said. “That’s why he’s gonna be so successful in college. He’s good at this, he understands the process, he has a great relationship with kids. There isn’t a college coach around that’s gonna outwork Chris.”
Chris Alesi will be doing less coaching at Wagner in his current position and more learning, he said. He will be in charge of breaking down film and will run summer camps, though his many city ties can only help Wagner recruit inside the five boroughs.
Hurley led Wagner to a 13-17 mark in his first season and has compiled an impressive four-man recruiting class for 2011. He’s talked about turning the Staten Island program into the Butler of the east coast. Alesi is pleased to be a part of that mandate.
“I can learn a lot from Danny, he’s one of the smartest basketball people I’ve ever been around,” Chris Alesi said. “It’s a chance to be a directly involved with a big-time staff.”