Brookville, N.Y. - Former LIU Post head men's
basketball coach Tom Galeazzi, one of the most accomplished coaches
in the history of college basketball, passed away yesterday.
“The LIU community is saddened to hear of the sudden death of
our former beloved basketball coach Tom Galeazzi,” said
Athletic Director Bryan Collins. “His Hall of Fame
career touched the lives of so many student –athletes as well
as the entire LIU Post community. Our thoughts and prayers
are with the Galeazzi family.”
Galeazzi's career as head coach of the Pioneers spanned 25
illustrious seasons and saw him post a 466-260 overall
record. He won ten NYCAC Championships and took the Pioneers
to nine NCAA Regional appearances. Galeazzi's Post squads won
21-plus games 11 times on his watch, including back-to-back 25-win
seasons in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 campaigns. The Pioneers made
three round-of-16 appearances in the NCAA Division II Championship
during that time, including an “Elite Eight” appearance
in 1985. From 1968-94, he enjoyed 26 straight winnings seasons.
The legendary collegiate mentor had an overall collegiate coaching
record of 775-366, which included 11 years of coaching at
SUNY Farmingdale (1970-81) and four seasons at Suffolk County
(N.Y.) Community College (1966-70). He won a pair of junior college
regional championships at each of those schools, and posted a
combined ledger of 308-107 at the JUCO level. At one points
in time, he was the only active coach in the United States with 300
wins at both the JUCO and NCAA levels.
Galeazzi was named Coach of the Year seven times during his 40-year
coaching career, and was inducted into the New York State
Basketball Hall of Fame (Glens Falls, N.Y.) in August, 1996.
Also a member of the SUNY Farmingdale Athletic Hall of Fame,
Galeazzi was recently selected as one of the inductees of the 2013
LIU Post Athletics Hall of Fame class.
Galeazzi is survived by his two sons, Richard and Robert, his
fiancée, Gale, and grandchildren.
Arrangements will be released at a later time.
Provided by the LIU Post Sports Information Department.
