Lou Lamoriello is known for his 27 seasons as the New Jersey Devils general manager but before he began his remarkable NHL run, the new Toronto Maple Leafs GM had humbler beginnings at Providence College, his alumnus, where he found success not only on the ice, but for the basketball program as well.
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Lamoriello became head coach of the Friars’ hockey team in 1968 and was then promoted as the university’s athletic director in 1982. As AD, Lamoriello left an indelible mark on the hardwood by hiring Rick Pitino as the Friars’ head basketball coach, a move that would result in a Final Four appearance for Providence in 1987.
Even years later when Lamoriello was with the Devils, he pushed New Jersey Nets ownership to make the famous trade for Jason Kidd from the Phoenix Suns, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Additionally, Lamoriello supposedly left a big mark on the likes of Jeff Van Gundy (who was hired as a Pitino assistant at Providence) and Lawrence Frank (while he was with the Nets).
So, while Lamoriello’s duties will certainly focus on the Maple Leafs, and what’s happening on the ice, he certainly is no slouch when it comes to basketball.
Looks like Masai Ujiri has another resource in the MLSE family that he can use when making basketball decisions.
