Rob Lanier Named Assistant Coach At Virginia
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May 4, 2005
CHARLOTTESVILLE – Rob Lanier, the men’s head basketball coach at Siena College the last four years, has joined the University of Virginia men’s basketball coaching staff. Lanier’s appointment was announced on Wednesday (May 4) by UVa head coach Dave Leitao.
Lanier is the second coach to join Leitao’s staff at Virginia. Gene Cross, an assistant coach at DePaul University the last three years, was previously named to the UVa staff.
“Having known and watched Rob for many years, I am convinced he will be a tremendous asset to our program,” Leitao said. “As an assistant coach, he has recruited successfully on a national level and his contacts will be valuable to us. He has head coaching experience that will be of benefit to me as we move the program forward. He will also provide the type of relationships with our players that will help them grow and reach their goals both athletically and academically.”
During Lanier’s four years as Siena’s head coach, the Saints participated in one NCAA Tournament and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Prior to becoming the head coach at Siena, Lanier was an assistant coach at the University of Texas for two years (1999-2001). He was also an assistant coach at Rutgers University for two years (1997-99) and at St. Bonaventure University for five years (1992-97). He began his coaching career at Niagara University where he was a graduate assistant coach for one year and a restricted earnings assistant coach for one year.
Lanier also has international coaching experience. He was the head coach of teams comprised of collegiate players from the United States that competed in Greece in 1999 and 2000, Germany in 1998, Italy in 1996 and the Netherlands in 1995.
The 36-year-old native of Buffalo, N.Y., earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from St. Bonaventure in 1990 and his master’s degree in educational counseling from Niagara in 1993.
Lanier earned four letters in basketball at St. Bonaventure. He was a three-year starter for the Bonnies and was the team’s captain as a senior.
Lanier and his wife, Dr. Dayo Lanier, have two children – a son and a daughter.