Rollie Massimino is a great basketball coach. Rollie Massimino started out as a player before transitioning into coaching at Stony Brook University. In addition, he served as head coach of the Villanova Wildcats and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.
He participated in a number of tournaments, going through numerous highs and lows. But he also received accolades, awards, and honors.
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Childhood & Family
Rollie Massimino was born on November 13, 1934, in Hillside, New Jersey to Mr. Salvator and Mrs. Grace Massimino.
In addition, Rollie’s adored parents gave him the full biological name Roland Vincent Massimino.
In a similar vein, the meaning of his name, Roland, which is of Germanic ancestry, is “From the renowned land.”
Salvator, Massimino’s father, worked as a shoemaker.
In the 1990s, he moved from Italy to the United States. His mother Grace, on the other hand, had Native American ancestry.
Net Worth
Before his death, Rollie Massimino had a $5 million positive net worth.
Additionally, he received a good salary for his commentary job.
For almost 40 years, Rollie coached varsity basketball.
As a result, he undoubtedly made a lot of money while instructing.
Facts of Rollie Massimino
| Full Name | Roland Vincent Massimino |
| Known as | Rollie Massimino |
| Nickname | “Rollie” |
| Birth Date | November 13, 1934 |
| Birth Place | Hill Side, New Jersey, USA |
| Residence | West Palm Beach, Florida, USA |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Italian-American |
| Education | Hillside High School (Class of 1952), Rutgers University – Bachelor in Education (1956), Rutgers University – Master in Health and Physical Education (1959) |
| Father’s Name | Salvatore Massimino |
| Mother’s Name | Grace Massimino |
| Siblings | N/A |
| Died | August 30, 2017 (aged 82) |
| Death Place | West Palm Beach, Florida, USA |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Blond |
| Body type | Endomorph |
| Profession | Basketball Coach |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Mary Jane Massimino |
| Children | 5 – Tom, Lee An, Michele, Roland (R.C.), and Andrew Massimino |
| Beginning of Professional Career | 1952 |
| Retirement | 2017 |
| Sports team | Villanova Wildcats, UNLV Running’ Rebels, Cleveland State Vikings, Keiser Hawks, etc. |
| Honors |
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| Victory |
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| Net Worth | $5 Million (as of 2022) |
| Merch | Trading Card |
| Last Update | June 2022 |
Early Years & Education
1952 was the year Rollie graduated from Hillside High School. Later, in 1959, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Vermont.
Massimino participated in three years of men’s basketball for the Vermont Catamounts as a student-athlete.
Additionally, he joined the UVM Kappa Sigma fraternity as an honorary member of the Alpha-Lambda chapter.
In 1959, Massimino graduated from Rutgers University with a Master’s in Health and Physical Education. Then, in order to pursue a profession as a basketball coach, he relocated to New Jersey.
Basketball Coaching Career
After graduating, Rollie started working as a coach. He also started working with the Cranford Boys Varsity Basketball team as an assistant coach.
In 1959, he also coached the boys’ varsity basketball team for the Hillside Comets.
In his second season, Massimino guided the Hillside Comets to the State Group III Championship finals. His group was trounced by the Newark Central Blue Devils nonetheless.
In the championship game, he also faced off against the Burlington Red Devils.
With the high school All-American Bill Schutsky team in 1963, Rollie led the Comets to the state Group IV championships.
But in the last playoff game, he and his group were defeated. In addition, despite making it to the 1963 Championship Final, the Comets lost the season.
Massimino relocated to Massachusetts’ Lexington High School. With a 20-1 record in 1965, he guided his team to a state championship. In addition, he was creating the groundwork for a top academic program.
Later, in 1971, 1972, and 1978, Rollie won three championships in the Middlesex Basketball League. Additionally, during his ten seasons as a high school coach, he amassed a 160-61 record.
Record as a coach
In 1969, Rollie made his collegiate coaching debut at Stony Brook University.
In addition, the Patriots captured the conference title for the first time ever. He qualified for the NCAA small college tournament as well.
At the University of Pennsylvania, Massimino worked as Chuck Daly’s assistant coach. Later, he switched his squad to the Wildcats, with Jack Kraft as the new head coach.
One of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history is accomplished by Massimino’s team. Prior to that, they eliminated Georgetown Hoyas from the 1985 NCAA Tournament Championship game.
Rollie’s team overcame several obstacles to advance to the championship round, beginning with a victory over Dayton’s home court.
Prior to their final four victories over Memphis State, they also faced Michigan, Maryland, and North Carolina.
Resigned as head coach of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels
Massimino departed Villanova in 1992 after having the guts to take the job as head coach.
After UNLV’s 1991–1992 probation, he then applied to UNLV in the hopes of helping the team succeed and gain credibility.
According to the state of Nevada, UNLV president Robert Maxson was forced to reach a side agreement to increase Massimino’s salary since it broke both UNLV policies and state ethics laws.
He was forced to quit as a result.
Massimino played for the Cleveland State University team in 1996. In addition, in his seventh season as coach, they had a 90-113 record.
Contrarily, his student’s circumstance this time led his contract to the off-court concerns. due to suspicions of academic fraud and major crimes being committed against players who had difficulties with drugs and alcohol.
Coaching with the Keiser Seahawks and the Villanova Wildcats
The men’s basketball team for the Keiser Seahawks hired Rollie as their head coach.
He also joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Even the Florida site that Northwood University sold to Keiser University gave Massimino an opportunity to coach.
In addition, it was during his leadership that Northwood won four FSC regular-season championships and made it to the NAIA National Tournament.
Later, Northwood competes in all eight seasons of the Massimino, placing second in the 2012 season and earning a spot in the national quarterfinals.
To wrap up the 2013–14 campaign, Rollie listed Northwood’s standing at 227–48.
Although Massimino’s lengthy career may be coming to an end at Keiser, he has played for the Villanova men’s team for approximately 19 years and has a 481-375 record.
He was renowned for being a ferocious sideline tactician and for providing motivational speeches while drawing on his Italian ancestry.
Villanova is regarded as a good team because it comes from the strong Big East Conference. They were fortunate to be chosen for the N.C.A.A. tournament despite their 10 regular-season losses.
What contributed to Massimino’s demise?
In April 2016, Rollie Massimino learned that he had brain and lung cancer, both of which were terminal. The renowned coach has one year to live, according to the medical professionals.
Massimino went to the NCAA tournament in Houston’s NRG Stadium despite his battle with cancer. Later, in late 2016, he got to see the Villanova Wildcats win the illustrious championship.
Massimino eventually lived for a total of sixteen months. He tragically passed away on August 30, 2017, at his residence. At the time of his passing, he was 82 years old.
Rollie missed Villanova’s 2018 NCAA championship victory because he was not present.
However, during the 2017–18 season, all Villanova players paid tribute while sporting retro attire. Additionally, they performed the 1984–85 championship season triumph in his memory.
The families of Massimino received heartfelt condolences from a number of well-known celebrities, illustrious basketball players, and NBA supporters.
Social media was flooded with posts on Massimino’s passing, sad comments, and condolences for Rollie’s family. On Twitter, several users misconstrued #rolliemassimino #legendarycoach.
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Married Life
Mary Jane Massimino and Rollie Massimino are married. The marriage of Rollie and Mary Jane Massimino lasted 59 years.
After saying “I do” with Mary Jane Massimino in 1958, Rollie committed to her.
After the wedding ceremony, they made their home in Florida. Mr. Massimino was going through a difficult moment at the time, but his wife was there for him.
The couple had three boys, Tom, Roland, and Andrew, as well as two daughters, Lee Ann and Michele.
Additionally, after having seventeen grandkids, including Kayla Sleece, they received a gift of pleasures.
The majority of Mr. Massimino’s kids became athletes by imitating them.
Similarly, in 1986, his daughter Lee Ann coached Villanova Lacrosse. She also earned her certification as a physical therapist.
Similar to this, during his time there, Rollie’s son Tom Massimino volunteered as an assistant coach with the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels.
He currently holds the position of CEO of Harman Fitness, LLC.
Sadly, Rollie and Mary’s union disintegrated after he passed away in 2017. Furthermore, she died on July 22, 2020, at the age of 84.
Similarly, Villanova’s head coach Jay Wright announced the death on Twitter.
