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2014-Present Virginia Tech Assistant Coach NIT 2nd Round (2016)
2011-14 South Florida Assistant Coach NCAA 3rd Round (2012)
2006-10 Lamar Head Coach
2003-06 Lamar Assistant Coach
2000-03 Memphis Assistant Coach NCAA (2003)
1998-00 Wyoming Assistant Coach
1994-98 Tulane Assistant Coach NCAA 2nd Round (1995)
1989-94 Centenary Assistant Coach
STEVE ROCCAFORTE COACH I NG CAREER
Roccaforte’s penchant for recruiting was as evident
as ever in 2009-10 as Lamar’s eight-player class was
ranked ninth by and 15th-best
in the nation by Basketball Times. The class featured
three of the top 15 scorers in Junior College Division I.
During his career, Roccaforte has coached or recruited
such future NBA players as Larry Robinson-Centenary,
Jerald Honeycutt-Tulane, Chris Owens-Tulane, Linton
Johnson-Tulane, Josh Davis-Wyoming, Dejuan Wagner-
Memphis, Antonio Burks-Memphis, Earl Barron-
Memphis, Sean Banks-Memphis, Qyntel Woods-
Memphis, Amare Stoudemire-Memphis, Kendrick
Perkins-Memphis, Rodney Carney-Memphis and Adrian
Caldwell - Lamar.
Roccaforte was listed as one of the top four assistant
coaches ready to take over their own program according
to Dan Wetzel of CBS and was voted
the seventh-best assistant coach in the country by
Basketball Times for the 2002-03 season. According
to recruiting analyst Dave Telep, Roccaforte is one of
the 25 hardest-working coaches in the nation as well as
one of the top 15 recruiters in the country. Clark Francis
of listed Roccaforte as the top mid-
major assistant coach in the country in 2005.
Academics are a high priority for Roccaforte as
evidenced by the fact that Lamar’s increase in
Academic Progress Rate (APR) was among the best
in the country. Lamar’s APR, which is a real-time
measurement of a team’s ability to stay on course and
graduate, moved up 101 spots to No. 20 in the country
during Roccaforte’s tenure.
In his five seasons, Lamar was a sparkling 55-20 at
home in the Montagne Center and guided LU to its
first SLC regular-season championship in more than
20 years in his second season with an impressive 13-3
conference mark. He coached nine all-conference
selections at Lamar.
The 2007-08 season featured a number of impressive
streaks andgreat players. Among themwere a 14-2 home
record, a school-record six-consecutive conference
road victories and the eighth-largest home crowd in school
history. Lamar ranked eighth in the nation in scoring offense
(81.5 ppg.) and in the top 50 in both field goal percentage
(46.9) and 3-point field goal percentage (38.2).
For his efforts, Roccaforte was named the 2007-08 Southland
Conference Coach of the Year by the Lake Charles American-
Press newspaper. Senior Lamar Sanders and Kenny Dawkins
were both named first team All-SLC, with Dawkins matching
his teammate as SLC Newcomer of the Year. The success of
that season led to a top 25 ranking in the mid-major poll the
following year. Lamar ranked 12th in the NCAA in assists at
17.3 per game, 31st in three-pointers made per game (8.3)
and 52nd in three-point percentage (.379).
Individually, Sanders led the SLC, and ranked 12th in the
NCAA, in rebounding at 9.8 rpg. The Cardinals set a new
single season school record for three-point attempts (702) and
posted the second-best mark in three-pointers made (266).
Roccaforte’s first recruiting class as the head coach paid
immediate dividends as Sanders was named SLC Newcomer
of the Year and earned second-team All-SLC honors. Center
James Davis was a third-team All-SLC performer, and guard
Darren Hopkins was an honorable mention selection.
During his four years at Tulane, the Green Wave consistently
ranked among the top-25 recruiting classes in the nation and
included an All-American and seven All-Conference USA
selections. The final recruiting class that he helped sign was
ranked eighth nationally.
Roccaforte was part of a Tulane staff that coached the
Green Wave to three consecutive 20-win seasons during his
tenure (1994-98). The Green Wave advanced to the NCAA
Tournament second round in 1995, the NIT Final Four in
1996 and a second NIT appearance in 1997. The program
also captured Conference USA Red Division titles in 1995-
96 and 1996-97.
Prior to being named to the top spot at Lamar, Roccaforte
served for three seasons with the Cardinals as an assistant
coach and recruiting coordinator under Billy Tubbs.
Roccaforte spent three years as an assistant coach at the
University of Memphis before returning to Lamar. He helped
the Tigers advance to the NIT final four in 2001, won the
NIT championship in 2002 and advanced to the NCAA
Tournament in 2003 for the first time in seven years. Before
Memphis, Roccaforte spent two seasons as an assistant
coach on the Wyoming staff (1998-2000). Before heading
to Wyoming, Roccaforte worked at Tulane. Roccaforte was
an assistant coach at Centenary College for five seasons
(1989-94). He earned his bachelor of applied arts and
sciences degree from Lamar in 1989.
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