Jerry DeGregorio is the former head basketball coach of the University of Rhode Island

University of Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...

, where he coached the Rams

Rhode Island Rams

The Rhode Island Rams are the athletic programs of the University of Rhode Island, based in Kingston, Rhode Island, USA. The school sponsors 18 athletic programs , most of which compete in the NCAA's Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. The football team, however, competes in the Colonial Athletic...

 from 1999 to 2001.

DeGregorio had been a high school coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

St. Thomas Aquinas High School can refer to:*St. Thomas Aquinas High School , Canada*St. Thomas Aquinas High School , United States*Saint Thomas Aquinas High School , United States...

 in New Britain, Connecticut

New Britain, Connecticut

New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....

, where he coached for 2 seasons. Contrary to popular belief he did not coach Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom

Lamar Joseph Odom is an American professional basketball forward with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association.-Early life:...

; Lamar arrived at the school in his senior year following the end of the basketball season.

He moved to Rhode Island in 1997 as top assistant to Jim Harrick

Jim Harrick

Jim Harrick is an American former basketball coach who coached at Pepperdine University, UCLA, the University of Rhode Island and the University of Georgia over a combined total of 23 seasons.-Biography:...

, shortly after Odom transferred from UNLV. Harrick abruptly left for Georgia after the 1998-99 season, and DeGregorio was named head coach. Just days later, however, Odom announced he was entering the 1999 NBA Draft

1999 NBA Draft

The 1999 NBA Draft was held on June 30, 1999 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. It was the first draft in which four players from the same college were picked in the first round, with Elton Brand , Trajan Langdon , Corey Maggette and William Avery being selected out of Duke University...

. In rapid succession, four prospective recruits dropped URI from their lists, another was ruled ineligible and a key reserve was lost to academics. With a decimated roster, DeGregorio's first team struggled to a 5-25 record, worst in school history.

DeGregorio's second season was little better, at 7-23. He resigned after the season.