MILTON, Mass. – Curry College Athletics has announced the implementation of the Summer Spotlight series, which will feature profiles of returning student-athletes and coaches across the Colonels' 14 NCAA Division III programs.
We continue the series with Joe Busacca, the Head Coach of our men's basketball program:
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Where did you go to college? Misericordia University and Manhattanville College (Masters)
How many years have you been at Curry? Two
What was your path to end up at Curry? I went to Misericordia for four years as an undergrad where I played basketball. I was fortunate to be a part of some great teams where we went on to win two conference championships. I went on to become an assistant coach for Manhattanville College for two years, which then led me to Curry.
What do you love about working at Curry? The student body and staff. Being from New York and not having family around me, it has been special to be around so many amazing people daily. They have really become my extended family and I look forward to coming in every day.
What are some of your hobbies outside of the office? I have become a big-time golfer over the last three-four years. So, whenever I get a chance, I will be on a golf course!!
How do you enhance the student-athlete experience for your team and/or department? One of my biggest things is trying to make my guys feel like they are a part of a Division I program. I want my student-athletes to feel special every time they walk into our locker room or walk on to the court. I also make sure we schedule a Division I opponent every year. It gives our guys a chance to compete against the best and it is usually an experience they will remember for the rest of their lives. Last year, we went to Staten Island for an overnight tournament and this year, we are looking to go to Williams for an overnight as well. It's a great time to bring guys together!
What do you look for a student-athlete when recruiting? We use a system called "OKG". It stands for "Our Kinda Guy". We want student-athletes who take pride in academics. We want athletes who come from a winning program and have a level of toughness to them regardless of the situation they are put in. We want someone who is capable of becoming a leader and someone who takes pride in being a good teammate. One of my favorite things I look for in recruiting is does he hate losing more than he enjoys winning. Those are a few checkpoints that my staff will make sure of!
How have you stayed in contact with your team and recruits during the pandemic? We talk almost every day. The pandemic hasn't changed our communication level. If anything, it has made it even stronger! We will do Zoom meetings to get everyone together and catch up, but mostly it has been individual conversations and making sure my guys and their families are doing well.
What have you personally been doing during the pandemic? A ton of skill and development. One of the best things is how accessible all these college coaches are right now. I have been a part of some amazing conversations that has helped me become a better coach and a better man.
What is the first thing you are going to do when allowed back on campus? Go into Katz Gymnasium.
Do you have any major coaching influences? Trevor Woodruff and Pat Scanlon are two people who are extremely close to me. Trevor Woodruff coached me at Misericordia and is now a Division I Head Women's Coach at Bucknell University. Pat Scanlon was my boss while at Manhattanville and taught me more about culture and how to conduct myself in our profession more than anyone else. A coach that I look up to is Chris Mooney from Richmond. He is someone that I study and admire.
What is your favorite about coaching? Is it the teaching, being on your playing surface, or interacting with student-athletes? It's hard to pick one thing that I like more than the other. But if I had to pick one, it would be the ability to impact my players' lives. It's amazing to have the ability every day to make a difference and help through some life challenges.
How would you categorize/describe your coaching style/philosophy? First and foremost, we will always be a player-centric program. I will always put the players first, especially supporting their life as a student. My number one job as the Head Coach of the program is to mentor these young men and prepare them for the rigors of life. It is extremely important that the players take a shared ownership, in the current and future state of the program. On the court, I will always play to the strengths of my team. I believe in putting the right guys in the right spots to be successful. I take pride in skill development and making sure our guys are getting better every day!!
Favorites
Favorite athlete: Sebastian Telfair
Favorite sports team: New York Jets
Favorite movie/tv show: Lord of the Rings
Favorite memory at Curry: Seeing the seniors celebrate their first conference win of their careers. Seeing their joy will forever be a lasting memory in my coaching career.
Favorite food: Pasta Carbonara
Favorite vacation spot: Family house in Florida
Favorite spot on campus: Katz Gymnasium or Miller Field House
Favorite quote/motto: "The dark does not destroy the light: it defines it. It's our fear of the dark that casts our joy into the shadows."
Check out our previous Summer Spotlights:
Allie Wysocki - Women's Lacrosse
Thomas Agliata - Football
Jocelyn Dimond - Softball, Women's Soccer
Tarek Paranica - Men's Ice Hockey
Rebecca Johnson - Women's Volleyball
Richard Silva - Men's Soccer
Kelsie Rainone - Women's Cross Country
Michael Ashley - Men's Basketball
Maddie Wilson - Women's Soccer
Samrin LaPrise - Men's Lacrosse
Jordan Perzan - Softball
Garrett Fosher - Baseball
Samantha Borges - Women's Soccer
Melvin Wells - Football
Alex Chase - Softball
Daniel Coughlin - Baseball
Derek Degeis - Football
Brigida Palatino - Women's Soccer Head Coach/Senior Woman Administrator
Keep an eye on curryathletics.com for more Summer Spotlights!
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