Mike Romano enters his third year at Alfred University in the 2019-20 season.
Responsible for the Saxons defensive schemes, he was a key part of last seasons Empire 8 Championship team and first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1997. That team won a program-record 14 games in a row and won its first NCAA Tournament contest since the 1984-85 season. Statistically, that team was tops in the Empire 8 in opponent turnovers (16.8) per game, and were second in both points allowed (71.8) and opponent shooting percentage (42 percent). Romano and the rest of the AU staff were named the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts. In his first season at Alfred (2017-18), Romano helped the Saxons post an eight-win increase from the previous season and a return to the Empire 8 tournament for the first time since the 2014-15 season.
Romano’s vast recruiting ties throughout the Northeast have been instrumental in recruiting many heralded student-athletes to the Saxon roster, including the 2018-19 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year Elliot Bowen.
Previously, Romano was an assistant coach on the men’s basketball staff at Hartwick College that recruited the 2017-18 Empire 8 and East Region Rookie of the Year, Kevin Townes. Before that he spent a year at Liberty League member Bard College where he recruited unanimous All-Rookie selection Chris Rogers.
Romano also spent three highly successful seasons at Rhode Island College of the Little East Conference where he recruited multiple all-rookie and all-conference selections. On the court the Anchormen appeared in the Little East Championship game all three seasons and won the title twice, advancing to two NCAA tournaments. During the 2012-13 season, Romano coached All-American selection Tahrike Carter as the Anchormen spent multiple weeks in the D3hoops.com top 25 poll, rising to as high as 13th in the country.
A graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Romano earned his masters degree in secondary education at Marist College where he was a graduate manager for the school’s Division I basketball program.
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