Tommy Amaker
Encyclopedia
Harold Tommy Amaker (born June 6, 1965) is the current head coach
of the Harvard University
men's basketball team. He has also served as head basketball coach for the University of Michigan
men's basketball team and at Seton Hall University
. He played point guard
and later served as an assistant coach at Duke University
under Mike Krzyzewski. As an All-American player, he set numerous records and earned many recognitions. As an NCAA
Division I college basketball
coach, he took Seton Hall to the post season in each of his four seasons as their coach, helped Michigan win the National Invitation Tournament
the year after a probationary ban from postseason play, and had the winningest season in school history in the third season with Harvard.
As a player, he set most of the assists
records and many steals
records for Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
. He also set the Atlantic Coast Conference
single-season games played and games started records. His 40 games played and started for the 1985–86 team remained as tied but not broken conference records through the 2010–11 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season
. His assists records were broken by subsequent Duke point guards Bobby Hurley
and Steve Wojciechowski
. He also held the Duke career steals record for fourteen years. In addition to single-season games records, he holds the record for career consecutive starts. Among his numerous accolades, he was the first winner of the NABC Defensive Player of the Year
for his defense, and he was a third team All-American.
As a coach, he took Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball
to postseason tournaments (NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament – 2000
and National Invitation Tournament – 1998
, 1999
, and 2001
) in each of his four seasons as their coach. He dealt with the turmoil and self-imposed sanctions of the University of Michigan basketball scandal
in his first years with Michigan
, where he eventually won the 2004 National Invitation Tournament
with the 2003-04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
and finished as the runner-up with Michigan in the 2006 National Invitation Tournament
. Previously, he served 9 seasons as an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
under Krzyzewski. His first four season, were the part a 5-year streak of final four appearances by Duke (including back-to-back national championships).
In his tenure as Harvard
men's basketball coach, he was the first coach to lead the Crimson to victory over a ranked opponent with the 2008–09 team. He also coached the 2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
into the postseason (2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
) in his third year there, which included the highest single-season victory total (21) in school history. The 2010–11 team
became the first Harvard men's basketball team to clinch a share of the Ivy League
championship and surpassed the prior season win total.
in was controversial. Amaker's mother was a Fairfax County
teacher, which at the time gave her the freedom to choose where her son went to high school. She felt Amaker would be able to play on the varsity team
at Woodson as a freshman, because coach Red Jenkins had been impressed with Amaker's youth summer league game performances since the time Amaker was ten years old. Amaker's dominance at Woodson has been cited as the reason why teachers do not have the same freedom to choose that they formerly did. Amaker did earn the starting job by December of his freshman year.
His mother, a high school English teacher, was his first coach. While growing up without a father in the house, Amaker was treated to the finest that his mother could provide. His mother attended his practices and graded papers in the coaches' office. His coach, Jenkins, referred to him as "T-bird".
Amaker, who grew up in Fairfax, was the first freshman to make varsity in W.T. Woodson history. He played on the 1983 McDonald's All-American Team
and was also named to the Parade All-American team. Krzyzewski had been in town to evaluate Johnny Dawkins
and got a chance to see Amaker play. Amaker had wanted to play for the Maryland Terrapins
because his sister Tami went there and he idolized Maryland star guard John Lucas
. He was recruited to Duke by assistant coach Chuck Swenson
, who would later serve as an Amaker assistant.
. The three-point shot became a permanent part of the game during his senior season and he led the team that year. In his senior season, he was named the first winner of the Henry Iba Corinthian Award, given to the national defensive player of the year. Amaker also won a gold medal as a member of the US national team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship
and the 1986 Goodwill Games
. Amaker was selected as a 1987 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American
third team member by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
. He was selected to the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
All-NCAA Final Four Team and the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
All-Midwest Regional Team. In the 1987 tournament he led Duke in scoring in its final two games. He was a 1987 All-ACC 2nd-team selection and earned the team co-MVP award with Danny Ferry
that year. He served as team captain
that season.
As a freshman and sophomore he led Duke to the NCAA Tournament in 1984
and 1985
, but neither team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. As a junior in 1986, he was part of a team that finished as national runner-up
in the NCAA Tournament
to Louisville
. That year he recorded 81 steals. At the time, that was second to Jim Spanarkel
in Duke history. He set the career steals record, which stood until Shane Battier
broke it in 2001. Amaker also holds the Duke single-year NCAA Tournament record with 16 steals in 1986. During that tournament, he had seven steals in two different games—against Old Dominion
in the second round on March 15 and Louisville in the final on March 31. This stood as the Duke single-game NCAA tournament record for seven years until Grant Hill
had eight. His 36 steals in 12 career NCAA games for a 3.0 average continues to be a Duke NCAA tournament career record. As a senior, he led Duke back to the NCAA tournament
, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual champion Indiana
.
As a player, he set many Duke career and single-season assists records including single-season assists (241, 1986–90), single-season assists to turnover ratio (2.88, 1985–97), career assists to turnover ratio (2.11, 1987–98), career assists per game (5.1, 1987–93), and career assists (708, 1987–92). They were broken by Hurley (single-season assists, career assists, and career assists per game) and Wojciechowski (single-season assists to turnover and career assists to turnover ratio). Although his single-season assists records was surpassed by Hurley's freshman, sophomore and senior season totals, it still stands as a record for a Duke junior. He also held Duke's career NCAA tournament assist average record with 57 in 12 games for a 4.7 average until Hurley surpassed it with 145 in 20 games for a 7.3 average. His school single-game assists record of 14 tied on vs. Miami, 2/19/1986 was not broken until Hurley's senior 1993 season and is still a record for a junior.
Amaker holds several Duke and ACC records for games played. Mark Alarie
and Johnny Dawkins
have also started 40 games for Duke and both Ferry and Billy King
have played 40 games. Amakers 138 consecutive games started surpassed Alerie and Dawkins' totals of 133. His 138 consecutive games played was a Duke record until Chris Duhon
played 144 in a row ending in 2004. Consecutive games started is not shown in the 2009–10 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide records section. However, no ACC player has ever played more than 40 games in a season.
Following his career, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
in the 3rd round of the 1987 NBA Draft
with the 55th pick overall. He was regarded to be too small to play in the NBA at 6 feet (1.8 m) and 155 lbs. He did not make the Sonics team and spent three days with the Wyoming Wildcatters of the Continental Basketball Association
in . He quickly decided he wanted to return to Duke to pursue a Master of Business Administration
.
of the 1989 NCAA Tournament
. He would then serve as an assistant coach from 1989–97, during which time Duke won two NCAA Championships
(1991
& 1992
) and made two other Final Four appearances (1990
& 1994
). By 1992, Duke had been to five consecutive final fours. While an assistant, he declined numerous Division I head coaching opportunities. During his tenure, Duke won four regular season Atlantic Coast Conference
men's basketball championships (1991, 1992, 1994
and 1997
) and an the 1992 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
.
history. As a head coach, Amaker took Seton Hall to the NCAA tournament
once (2000) – when his team reached the "Sweet Sixteen" (third round) – and to the National Invitation Tournament
three times (1998, 1999 and 2001).
The earned the sixth seed in the 1998 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
, but were ousted in the first round by eleventh-seeded in overtime in the first round. They ended up in the 1998 National Invitation Tournament
where they lost in the first round to the to fall to 15–15. After returning Seton Hall to the post season, Amaker was considered for the Michigan job. However, Michigan decided to make interim coach Brian Ellerbe
a full-time head coach.
The earned the ninth seed in the 1999 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
and beat eighth-seeded in the first round before being beaten by one point by top-seeded Connecticut
, who went on to win the national championship
. They were invited to the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
where they lost in the first round to the and again finished 15–15.
While at Seton Hall, Amaker recruited the #2 recruiting class in the nation for the class of 2000, according to ESPN. The class consisted of Eddie Griffin
, (ranked by some as the top high school player in the nation), Andre Barrett
, and Marcus Toney-El. The Pirates were ranked high on many experts pre-season rankings. The earned the fifth seed in the 2000 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
and beat twelfth-seeded in the first round before being beaten by fourth-seeded . The first round win gave the team 20 victories and no Big East team had achieved that number of victories without getting invited to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in the 21-year history of the conference. They were invited to the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
where they were seeded tenth in the East Region. They knocked off seventh-seeded and second-seeded . In the Sweet Sixteen round they were ousted by third-seeded and finished with a 22–10.
The earned the west sixth seed in the 2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
and beat east three seed and west two seed . The team was eventually beaten in the semifinals by east top seed and ended the year at 16–15. They were invited to the 2001 National Invitation Tournament
where they lost in the first round to the . The following season, Amaker resigned as the Seton Hall head coach and took the vacant Michigan head coaching job. When Amaker met to discuss the potential job to replace the fired Ellerbe, Michigan athletic director
Bill Martin decided to save money and meet in a hotel lobby instead of renting a room. Word of the meeting got back to ESPN
and the New Jersey
press was not kind to Amaker.
. In his seventh game as head coach, he opposed his former mentor Krzyzewski and the 2001–02 Duke Blue Devils
, which Amaker's team lost. Although the 2001–02 Wolverines
finished at 11–18, Amaker was able to lead the tenth-seeded team to a victory over seventh-seeded in the 2002 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
before bowing out to two seed, .
Michigan finished the 2002–2003 season with a 17–13 record, but sat out both that year's NCAA and NIT tournaments due to the self-imposed postseason ban. The team had banned itself from post season play before the season started. Nonetheless, over the course of the season the team had earned a three seed and a first round bye
in the 2003 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
, but was upset in the second round by . At the conclusion of the season, the National Collegiate Athletic Association
added a second year of post season ineligibility as further punishment.
At Michigan, his 2003–04 team earned a fifth seed and first round bye in the 2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
where it defeated fourth-seeded before losing to top-seeded Illinois
. The team rattled off successive wins in the 2004 National Invitation Tournament
against , , and . The team eventually won the championship game against , giving Amaker his highest victory total to date with a 23–11 record. Amaker, who avoids the spotlight, was not on the court as his team partook in the ceremonial cutting of the nets at the 2004 NIT.
The 2004–05 team
team only achieved a nine seed in the 2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. It lost in the first round to eighth-seeded . The team posted a 13–18 record (4–12 in conference) and finished ninth in the conference.
His 2005–06 team
was a high percentage shooting, disciplined and balanced team. It was seeded seventh in the 2006 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
but lost to the tenth seeded . The team had been ranked 37th in the Ratings Percentage Index
prior to the game, making them a solid contender for an 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
invitation. The loss sent them to the 2006 National Invitation Tournament
where they were a number one seed, and they finished as the runner-up to . Along the way, the team defeated ninth-seeded , fifth-seeded (2OT), third-seeded and fifth-seeded . The team ended with a 22–11 (8–8) record.
His 2006–07 team
earned an eight seed in the 2007 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
where it defeated the ninth-seeded before succumbing to top-seeded Ohio State. As a three seed, it advanced to the second round of the 2007 National Invitation Tournament
by beating before falling to . The team finished with a 22–13 record although it was just 8–8 in conference play.
Amaker had been credited for helping to restore the ethical reputation of a Michigan program which had been tarnished by scandal
. However, he had been unable to take the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament in six seasons, which had caused him to draw criticism. Some fans and sportswriters argued that Amaker's teams tended to underachieve and fall apart in pressure situations, particularly at the end of the season. On March 17, 2007, Amaker was fired by the University of Michigan. Amaker received $900,000 to buy out the remaining years on his contract.
. Amaker became the only African American among Harvard's 32 head coaches. Harvard's recruiting process included interviewing with the underclassmen on the team who felt Amaker was a preferred choice to the competition that included Mike Jarvis
and Mike Gillian
. Amaker's Harvard team beat his former team, Michigan
, in just his eighth game as coach at Harvard during the 2007–08 season. Allegations of possible improper recruiting practices at Harvard arose after an article in The New York Times
in March 2008, but after an investigation the Ivy League
concluded that no violations of NCAA or Ivy League rules occurred, clearing Amaker and his staff. On January 7, 2009, Amaker's Harvard squad defeated then-ranked
Boston College (#17 AP Poll
/#24 Coaches' Poll) for the first win over a ranked team in the program's history. That year, his 2008–09 recruiting class was initially the first Ivy League class to be ranked in the top 25 by ESPN
.
The following season, after coaching Harvard to its winningest season ever behind the play of Jeremy Lin
, the 2009–10 team
was invited to participate in the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
. The team was defeated in the first round by . During the season, Harvard had won its rematch with . They also played #14 ranked Connecticut very tough behind 30 points and 9 rebounds from Lin. Although they only held the lead once, they were within 4 points in the final seconds of the game. That season, Amaker was a nominee for the inaugural Ben Jobe Award
as the top minority Division I college basketball coach. That season, he was recognized by Fox Sports
as the 2010 Ivy League Coach of the Year. Amaker was mentioned for the 2010 head coach opening at St. John's
.
Amaker led the 2010-11 team
team to a share of the 2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball season
championship, which was school's first men's basketball Ivy League Championship since the league was formed during the 1956–57 season
. Harvard finished the season a perfect 14–0 at home, which surpassed the prior season's school record of eleven home wins. The team's 12 conference game wins established a school record. The team's victory over Colorado
was the team's first ever against a Big 12 Conference
opponent since that conference commenced play in 1996. His fourth season also marked the fourth straight season that the team defeated at least one power conference opponent. Although Harvard never appeared in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
, for a few weeks during the season they received a vote in the AP Poll
. On March 7, Harvard received a vote in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. By finishing as Ivy League Co-champion, they faced Princeton
in a one-game playoff
and lost by a 63–62 margin. Princeton earned the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
automatic bid. Harvard earned an automatic bid to the 2011 National Invitation Tournament
. On March 15, Harvard was defeated by by a 71–54 margin in the first round. It was the school's first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament
. The final record of 23–7 established a school record for number of wins, surpassing the prior season's total of 21. Amaker was again a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, was a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award
and was selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
as the District 13 Coach of the Year. He was named Ivy League coach of the year by College Insider.
On November 25, 2011, Amaker's 2011-12 Harvard team
defeated then-ranked
Florida State
(#22 AP Poll/#20 Coaches' Poll) for the school's second win over a ranked team in the program's history.
and express mail
it to him from her home in during his career at least until his days at Michigan. Because he is a finicky eater, she has to strain the green pepper and onion
bits out of the sauce using cheesecloth
. According to friend, John Feinstein
, Amaker was politically left-leaning and Krzyzewski was the opposite.
Amaker earned a bachelor's degree
in economics
in 1987 from Duke. While serving as an assistant coach at Duke, he attended classes at the Fuqua School of Business
. At Michigan, his daily routine included breakfast at a local hotel where he read USA Today
. At Harvard, once a month, he convenes for breakfast at the restaurant Henrietta's Table with a group of noted African-American scholars and businessmen led by Harvard Law School
professor Charles Ogletree
to discuss sociopolitical issues. Amaker is known for his trademark mock turtleneck shirts, each of which has his initials monogram
med into the collar, and for wearing a sports coat at each news conference
. Unlike most of his peers, Amaker avoids the press and won't do a radio or television show.
Amaker was enshrined in the Duke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a member of the board of directors
for USA Basketball
. During his time on the board he served as a member of the Men's Collegiate and Men's Senior National Committees, where he helped select members of the United States' 1996 Olympic
gold medal team. Amaker owns two vintage Mercedes-Benz
cars and is a Washington Redskins
fan.
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
men's basketball team. He has also served as head basketball coach for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
men's basketball team and at Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
. He played point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
and later served as an assistant coach at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
under Mike Krzyzewski. As an All-American player, he set numerous records and earned many recognitions. As an NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach, he took Seton Hall to the post season in each of his four seasons as their coach, helped Michigan win the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
the year after a probationary ban from postseason play, and had the winningest season in school history in the third season with Harvard.
As a player, he set most of the assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
records and many steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
records for Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
. He also set the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
single-season games played and games started records. His 40 games played and started for the 1985–86 team remained as tied but not broken conference records through the 2010–11 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season
2010–11 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season
The 2010–11 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball season was the 58th season for the league.-Preseason:The AP preseason All-American team was named on November 1. Duke's Kyle Singler was the leading vote-getter with 62 of a possible 65 votes...
. His assists records were broken by subsequent Duke point guards Bobby Hurley
Bobby Hurley
Robert Matthew 'Bobby' Hurley is an American former basketball player and currently an assistant coach at Wagner College.-Biography:...
and Steve Wojciechowski
Steve Wojciechowski
Steve "Wojo" Wojciechowski is an American basketball coach and former player. He played at Duke University from 1994 until 1998 where he was the team's point guard. He currently is an associate head coach at Duke under head coach Mike Krzyzewski...
. He also held the Duke career steals record for fourteen years. In addition to single-season games records, he holds the record for career consecutive starts. Among his numerous accolades, he was the first winner of the NABC Defensive Player of the Year
NABC Defensive Player of the Year
The NABC Defensive Player of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches to recognize the top defensive player in United States college basketball...
for his defense, and he was a third team All-American.
As a coach, he took Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball
Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball
The Seton Hall Pirates men's basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey...
to postseason tournaments (NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament – 2000
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
and National Invitation Tournament – 1998
1998 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Georgia 95, Fresno State 79Minnesota later forfeited its entire 1997-98 schedule due to an academic fraud scandal....
, 1999
1999 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Xavier 106, Oregon 75...
, and 2001
2001 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Memphis 86, Detroit 71...
) in each of his four seasons as their coach. He dealt with the turmoil and self-imposed sanctions of the University of Michigan basketball scandal
University of Michigan basketball scandal
The University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...
in his first years with Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
, where he eventually won the 2004 National Invitation Tournament
2004 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:...
with the 2003-04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
2003-04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten...
and finished as the runner-up with Michigan in the 2006 National Invitation Tournament
2006 National Invitation Tournament
-Michigan Bracket:-Louisville Bracket:-Cincinnati Bracket:-Semifinals & Finals:...
. Previously, he served 9 seasons as an assistant coach for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
under Krzyzewski. His first four season, were the part a 5-year streak of final four appearances by Duke (including back-to-back national championships).
In his tenure as Harvard
Harvard Crimson
The Harvard Crimson are the athletic teams of Harvard University. The school's teams compete in NCAA Division I. As of 2006, there were 41 Division I intercollegiate varsity sports teams for women and men at Harvard, more than at any other NCAA Division I college in the country...
men's basketball coach, he was the first coach to lead the Crimson to victory over a ranked opponent with the 2008–09 team. He also coached the 2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team represented Harvard University in the Ivy League athletic conference during the 2009-10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Lavietes Pavilion, which has a capacity of 2,195...
into the postseason (2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament was a postseason single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams....
) in his third year there, which included the highest single-season victory total (21) in school history. The 2010–11 team
2010–11 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team represented Harvard University in the Ivy League athletic conference during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Lavietes Pavilion, which has a capacity of 2,195. The...
became the first Harvard men's basketball team to clinch a share of the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
championship and surpassed the prior season win total.
Youth
Falls Church native Amaker's selection of Wilbert Tucker Woodson High SchoolWilbert Tucker Woodson High School
Wilbert Tucker Woodson High School, commonly known as W.T. Woodson High School, is a high school located in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the east end of the city of Fairfax, opposite the shopping center on Main Street....
in was controversial. Amaker's mother was a Fairfax County
Fairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
teacher, which at the time gave her the freedom to choose where her son went to high school. She felt Amaker would be able to play on the varsity team
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
at Woodson as a freshman, because coach Red Jenkins had been impressed with Amaker's youth summer league game performances since the time Amaker was ten years old. Amaker's dominance at Woodson has been cited as the reason why teachers do not have the same freedom to choose that they formerly did. Amaker did earn the starting job by December of his freshman year.
His mother, a high school English teacher, was his first coach. While growing up without a father in the house, Amaker was treated to the finest that his mother could provide. His mother attended his practices and graded papers in the coaches' office. His coach, Jenkins, referred to him as "T-bird".
Amaker, who grew up in Fairfax, was the first freshman to make varsity in W.T. Woodson history. He played on the 1983 McDonald's All-American Team
McDonald's All-American Team
The McDonald's All-American Game refers to each of the all-star basketball games played each year for boys' and girls' high-school basketball graduates. Consisting of the top American and Canadian players, each team plays a single exhibition game after the conclusion of the high-school basketball...
and was also named to the Parade All-American team. Krzyzewski had been in town to evaluate Johnny Dawkins
Johnny Dawkins
-External links:*...
and got a chance to see Amaker play. Amaker had wanted to play for the Maryland Terrapins
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
because his sister Tami went there and he idolized Maryland star guard John Lucas
John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II is a retired American professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Basketball playing career and substance abuse:...
. He was recruited to Duke by assistant coach Chuck Swenson
Chuck Swenson
Chuck Swenson was the head coach for the William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team from 1987-1994. He had previously served as an assistant coach to Mike Krzyzewski from 1981–87 at Duke. He later served as an assistant to Tommy Amaker at Michigan. Statistically, Swenson was the second...
, who would later serve as an Amaker assistant.
College career
Amaker was a star point guard at Duke, starting as a freshman for head coach Krzyzewski. He led the team in assists three years and in steals four seasons. While at Duke his roommate for away games was Mike BreyMike Brey
Mike Brey is an American college basketball coach. He has been the men's head coach at the University of Notre Dame since July 14, 2000.-Early life and education:...
. The three-point shot became a permanent part of the game during his senior season and he led the team that year. In his senior season, he was named the first winner of the Henry Iba Corinthian Award, given to the national defensive player of the year. Amaker also won a gold medal as a member of the US national team in the 1986 FIBA World Championship
1986 FIBA World Championship
The 1986 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Spain from July 5 to 19 1986.The Final phase of the tournament was held at the Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid...
and the 1986 Goodwill Games
1986 Goodwill Games
The 1986 Goodwill Games was the inaugural edition of the international multi-sport event created by Ted Turner, which was held from 5 – 20 July 1986. The main stadium was the Olympic Stadium in Moscow, Soviet Union...
. Amaker was selected as a 1987 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American
1987 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1987 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
third team member by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
. He was selected to the 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
All-NCAA Final Four Team and the 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
All-Midwest Regional Team. In the 1987 tournament he led Duke in scoring in its final two games. He was a 1987 All-ACC 2nd-team selection and earned the team co-MVP award with Danny Ferry
Danny Ferry
Daniel John Willard "Danny" Ferry is a retired American professional basketball player and the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association...
that year. He served as team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
that season.
As a freshman and sophomore he led Duke to the NCAA Tournament in 1984
1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 53 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1984, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Seattle, Washington. A total of...
and 1985
1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1985 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. This was the first year the field was expanded to 64 teams, from 53 in the previous year's tournament. It began...
, but neither team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. As a junior in 1986, he was part of a team that finished as national runner-up
1985–86 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 1985–86 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University. The Head Coach was Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games in the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
in the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
to Louisville
1985–86 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team
-Roster:-NCAA basketball tournament:*West** Louisville 93, Drexel 73** Louisville 82, Bradley 68** Louisville 94, North Carolina 79** Louisville 84, Auburn 76*Final Four** Louisville 88, Louisiana State 77** Louisville 72, Duke 69-Awards and honors:...
. That year he recorded 81 steals. At the time, that was second to Jim Spanarkel
Jim Spanarkel
James Gerard Spanarkel is an American television analyst for the National Basketball Association. Spanarkel, who himself was a professional basketball player, was selected 16th overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1980...
in Duke history. He set the career steals record, which stood until Shane Battier
Shane Battier
Shane Courtney Battier is an American professional basketball player . He most recently played with the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. He has also been a member of the U.S...
broke it in 2001. Amaker also holds the Duke single-year NCAA Tournament record with 16 steals in 1986. During that tournament, he had seven steals in two different games—against Old Dominion
Old Dominion Monarchs basketball
The Old Dominion Monarchs Basketball team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in NCAA Division I men's competition. The school's team currently competes in the Colonial Athletic Association...
in the second round on March 15 and Louisville in the final on March 31. This stood as the Duke single-game NCAA tournament record for seven years until Grant Hill
Grant Hill
Grant Hill is the name of:* Grant Hill, American basketball player* Grant Hill , Canadian politician* Grant Hill, San Diego, California, an urban neighboorhood in central San Diego...
had eight. His 36 steals in 12 career NCAA games for a 3.0 average continues to be a Duke NCAA tournament career record. As a senior, he led Duke back to the NCAA tournament
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to eventual champion Indiana
1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team
The 1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. The Head Coach was Bobby Knight. The team played its home games in the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.-Team:-Player stats:...
.
As a player, he set many Duke career and single-season assists records including single-season assists (241, 1986–90), single-season assists to turnover ratio (2.88, 1985–97), career assists to turnover ratio (2.11, 1987–98), career assists per game (5.1, 1987–93), and career assists (708, 1987–92). They were broken by Hurley (single-season assists, career assists, and career assists per game) and Wojciechowski (single-season assists to turnover and career assists to turnover ratio). Although his single-season assists records was surpassed by Hurley's freshman, sophomore and senior season totals, it still stands as a record for a Duke junior. He also held Duke's career NCAA tournament assist average record with 57 in 12 games for a 4.7 average until Hurley surpassed it with 145 in 20 games for a 7.3 average. His school single-game assists record of 14 tied on vs. Miami, 2/19/1986 was not broken until Hurley's senior 1993 season and is still a record for a junior.
Amaker holds several Duke and ACC records for games played. Mark Alarie
Mark Alarie
Mark Steven Alarie is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He is 6'8", 217 lb....
and Johnny Dawkins
Johnny Dawkins
-External links:*...
have also started 40 games for Duke and both Ferry and Billy King
Billy King
Billy King is the general manager of the New Jersey Nets, and former general manager and team president of the Philadelphia 76ers. King grew up in Sterling, Virginia where he played basketball at Park View High School, and received a scholarship to play at Duke University. He was known primarily...
have played 40 games. Amakers 138 consecutive games started surpassed Alerie and Dawkins' totals of 133. His 138 consecutive games played was a Duke record until Chris Duhon
Chris Duhon
Chris Nicholas Duhon is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic. Duhon was a point guard for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team from 2000 to 2004, the Chicago Bulls from 2004 to 2008, and the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2010, and presently plays for the Orlando...
played 144 in a row ending in 2004. Consecutive games started is not shown in the 2009–10 Atlantic Coast Conference Media Guide records section. However, no ACC player has ever played more than 40 games in a season.
Following his career, he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
in the 3rd round of the 1987 NBA Draft
1987 NBA Draft
The 1987 Draft of the National Basketball Association was held on June 22, 1987 in New York City, New York.This draft is notable for the selection of two future members of the NBA 50 Greatest Players list, David Robinson and Scottie Pippen. Other notable selections include Reggie Miller, Kevin...
with the 55th pick overall. He was regarded to be too small to play in the NBA at 6 feet (1.8 m) and 155 lbs. He did not make the Sonics team and spent three days with the Wyoming Wildcatters of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
in . He quickly decided he wanted to return to Duke to pursue a Master of Business Administration
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
.
Duke
In 1988, after graduating, Amaker took a position on Krzyzewski's staff as a graduate assistant at Duke and the team reached the Final FourFinal four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
of the 1989 NCAA Tournament
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
. He would then serve as an assistant coach from 1989–97, during which time Duke won two NCAA Championships
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
(1991
1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
& 1992
1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
) and made two other Final Four appearances (1990
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
& 1994
1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1994 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1994, and ended with the championship game on April 4 in Charlotte, North Carolina...
). By 1992, Duke had been to five consecutive final fours. While an assistant, he declined numerous Division I head coaching opportunities. During his tenure, Duke won four regular season Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
men's basketball championships (1991, 1992, 1994
1993–94 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 1993–94 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University. The Head Coach was Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games in the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
and 1997
1996–97 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 1996–97 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University. The Head Coach was Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games in the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
) and an the 1992 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
1992 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1992 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Charlotte Coliseum. Duke won the tournament. They defeated North Carolina in the championship game. Florida State played in the ACC Tournament for this first time. This forced the addition...
.
Seton Hall
In 1997, Amaker took the head coaching position at Seton Hall, who had missed the post season in the two prior years. At 31, Amaker became the youngest head basketball coach in Big East ConferenceBig East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
history. As a head coach, Amaker took Seton Hall to the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
once (2000) – when his team reached the "Sweet Sixteen" (third round) – and to the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
three times (1998, 1999 and 2001).
The earned the sixth seed in the 1998 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
1998 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1998 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 1998 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the three highest seeds received byes in the first...
, but were ousted in the first round by eleventh-seeded in overtime in the first round. They ended up in the 1998 National Invitation Tournament
1998 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Georgia 95, Fresno State 79Minnesota later forfeited its entire 1997-98 schedule due to an academic fraud scandal....
where they lost in the first round to the to fall to 15–15. After returning Seton Hall to the post season, Amaker was considered for the Michigan job. However, Michigan decided to make interim coach Brian Ellerbe
Brian Ellerbe
Brian Hersholt Ellerbe is an American basketball coach, currently an assistant at DePaul.The Seat Pleasant, Maryland native served as head men's basketball coach at Loyola-Maryland from 1994 to 1997, and then at the University of Michigan from 1997 to 2001, where he posted a 62-60 record...
a full-time head coach.
The earned the ninth seed in the 1999 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
1999 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 1999 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 1999 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the three highest seeds received byes in the first...
and beat eighth-seeded in the first round before being beaten by one point by top-seeded Connecticut
1998–99 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team
The 1998–1999 Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 1998–1999 NCAA Division I basketball season. Coached by Jim Calhoun, the Huskies played their home games at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A....
, who went on to win the national championship
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
. They were invited to the 1999 National Invitation Tournament
1999 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Xavier 106, Oregon 75...
where they lost in the first round to the and again finished 15–15.
While at Seton Hall, Amaker recruited the #2 recruiting class in the nation for the class of 2000, according to ESPN. The class consisted of Eddie Griffin
Eddie Griffin (basketball)
Eddie Jamaal Griffin was an American professional basketball player from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He last played for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, who waived him on March 13, 2007...
, (ranked by some as the top high school player in the nation), Andre Barrett
Andre Barrett
Andre Rashawd Barrett is an American professional basketball player. Since 2004, he has played for numerous teams in both the NBA and its affiliate league, the D-League...
, and Marcus Toney-El. The Pirates were ranked high on many experts pre-season rankings. The earned the fifth seed in the 2000 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
2000 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2000 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2000 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the three highest seeds received byes in the first...
and beat twelfth-seeded in the first round before being beaten by fourth-seeded . The first round win gave the team 20 victories and no Big East team had achieved that number of victories without getting invited to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in the 21-year history of the conference. They were invited to the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
where they were seeded tenth in the East Region. They knocked off seventh-seeded and second-seeded . In the Sweet Sixteen round they were ousted by third-seeded and finished with a 22–10.
The earned the west sixth seed in the 2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2001 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Its winner received the Big East Conference's automatic bid to the 2001 NCAA Tournament. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds and the two highest seeds in each division received...
and beat east three seed and west two seed . The team was eventually beaten in the semifinals by east top seed and ended the year at 16–15. They were invited to the 2001 National Invitation Tournament
2001 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Memphis 86, Detroit 71...
where they lost in the first round to the . The following season, Amaker resigned as the Seton Hall head coach and took the vacant Michigan head coaching job. When Amaker met to discuss the potential job to replace the fired Ellerbe, Michigan athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
Bill Martin decided to save money and meet in a hotel lobby instead of renting a room. Word of the meeting got back to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
press was not kind to Amaker.
Michigan
He inherited a Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team that was emerging from the shadows of the University of Michigan basketball scandalUniversity of Michigan basketball scandal
The University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...
. In his seventh game as head coach, he opposed his former mentor Krzyzewski and the 2001–02 Duke Blue Devils
2001–02 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 2001–02 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University. The Head Coach was Mike Krzyzewski. The team played its home games in the Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference....
, which Amaker's team lost. Although the 2001–02 Wolverines
2001–02 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2001–02 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2001–02 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction...
finished at 11–18, Amaker was able to lead the tenth-seeded team to a victory over seventh-seeded in the 2002 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2002 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2002 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was played between March 7 and March 10, 2002 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. The champion of the tournament was the Ohio State University, which received the Big Ten's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament...
before bowing out to two seed, .
Michigan finished the 2002–2003 season with a 17–13 record, but sat out both that year's NCAA and NIT tournaments due to the self-imposed postseason ban. The team had banned itself from post season play before the season started. Nonetheless, over the course of the season the team had earned a three seed and a first round bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
in the 2003 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2003 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-Seeds:All Big Ten schools play in the tournament. Teams are seeded by conference record, with a tiebreaker system used to seed teams with identical conference records.-Bracket:-References:*...
, but was upset in the second round by . At the conclusion of the season, the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
added a second year of post season ineligibility as further punishment.
At Michigan, his 2003–04 team earned a fifth seed and first round bye in the 2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2004 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-Opening Round :* Game 1: #8 Indiana 83 #9 Ohio State 69* Game 2: #10 Minnesota 63 #7 Purdue 52* Game 3: #6 Northwestern 57 #11 Penn State 52-Quarterfinals :* Game 4: #1 Illinois 71 #8 Indiana 59...
where it defeated fourth-seeded before losing to top-seeded Illinois
2003–04 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team
The 2003–04 Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team represented the University of Illiniois.-Team:-Player stats:-NCAA basketball tournament:*Atlanta regional** Illinois 72, Murray State 53** Illinois 92, Cincinnati 68*Regional Semifinal...
. The team rattled off successive wins in the 2004 National Invitation Tournament
2004 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:...
against , , and . The team eventually won the championship game against , giving Amaker his highest victory total to date with a 23–11 record. Amaker, who avoids the spotlight, was not on the court as his team partook in the ceremonial cutting of the nets at the 2004 NIT.
The 2004–05 team
2004–05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2004-05 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2004-05 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction...
team only achieved a nine seed in the 2005 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. It lost in the first round to eighth-seeded . The team posted a 13–18 record (4–12 in conference) and finished ninth in the conference.
His 2005–06 team
2005–06 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2005-06 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2005-06 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction...
was a high percentage shooting, disciplined and balanced team. It was seeded seventh in the 2006 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2006 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2006 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was played between March 9 and March 12, 2006 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the ninth annual Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. The champion of the tournament were the Iowa Hawkeyes, which received the Big...
but lost to the tenth seeded . The team had been ranked 37th in the Ratings Percentage Index
Ratings Percentage Index
The Rating Percentage Index, commonly known as the RPI, is a quantity used to rank sports teams based upon a team's wins and losses and its strength of schedule. It is one of the systems by which NCAA basketball and baseball teams are ranked...
prior to the game, making them a solid contender for an 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
invitation. The loss sent them to the 2006 National Invitation Tournament
2006 National Invitation Tournament
-Michigan Bracket:-Louisville Bracket:-Cincinnati Bracket:-Semifinals & Finals:...
where they were a number one seed, and they finished as the runner-up to . Along the way, the team defeated ninth-seeded , fifth-seeded (2OT), third-seeded and fifth-seeded . The team ended with a 22–11 (8–8) record.
His 2006–07 team
2006–07 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2006-07 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2006-07 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction...
earned an eight seed in the 2007 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
2007 Big Ten Conference Men's Basketball Tournament
-External links:*...
where it defeated the ninth-seeded before succumbing to top-seeded Ohio State. As a three seed, it advanced to the second round of the 2007 National Invitation Tournament
2007 National Invitation Tournament
The 2007 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams which did not participate in the 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
by beating before falling to . The team finished with a 22–13 record although it was just 8–8 in conference play.
Amaker had been credited for helping to restore the ethical reputation of a Michigan program which had been tarnished by scandal
University of Michigan basketball scandal
The University of Michigan basketball scandal or Ed Martin scandal was a six-year investigation of the relationship between the University of Michigan, its men's basketball teams and basketball team booster Ed Martin...
. However, he had been unable to take the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament in six seasons, which had caused him to draw criticism. Some fans and sportswriters argued that Amaker's teams tended to underachieve and fall apart in pressure situations, particularly at the end of the season. On March 17, 2007, Amaker was fired by the University of Michigan. Amaker received $900,000 to buy out the remaining years on his contract.
Harvard
On April 11, 2007, Amaker was named head men's basketball coach at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Amaker became the only African American among Harvard's 32 head coaches. Harvard's recruiting process included interviewing with the underclassmen on the team who felt Amaker was a preferred choice to the competition that included Mike Jarvis
Mike Jarvis
Mike Jarvis is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University. He has coached at Boston University, George Washington University and St. John's University. He also has worked as a commentator for college basketball games on ESPN...
and Mike Gillian
Mike Gillian
-References:...
. Amaker's Harvard team beat his former team, Michigan
2007–08 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 2007–08 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2007–08 season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction...
, in just his eighth game as coach at Harvard during the 2007–08 season. Allegations of possible improper recruiting practices at Harvard arose after an article in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
in March 2008, but after an investigation the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
concluded that no violations of NCAA or Ivy League rules occurred, clearing Amaker and his staff. On January 7, 2009, Amaker's Harvard squad defeated then-ranked
2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Two human polls made up the 2008–09 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.-Legend:-AP poll:...
Boston College (#17 AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
/#24 Coaches' Poll) for the first win over a ranked team in the program's history. That year, his 2008–09 recruiting class was initially the first Ivy League class to be ranked in the top 25 by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
The following season, after coaching Harvard to its winningest season ever behind the play of Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Shu-How Lin is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association...
, the 2009–10 team
2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team represented Harvard University in the Ivy League athletic conference during the 2009-10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Lavietes Pavilion, which has a capacity of 2,195...
was invited to participate in the 2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
2010 CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The 2010 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament was a postseason single-elimination tournament of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I teams....
. The team was defeated in the first round by . During the season, Harvard had won its rematch with . They also played #14 ranked Connecticut very tough behind 30 points and 9 rebounds from Lin. Although they only held the lead once, they were within 4 points in the final seconds of the game. That season, Amaker was a nominee for the inaugural Ben Jobe Award
Ben Jobe Award
The Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding minority men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...
as the top minority Division I college basketball coach. That season, he was recognized by Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
as the 2010 Ivy League Coach of the Year. Amaker was mentioned for the 2010 head coach opening at St. John's
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
.
Amaker led the 2010-11 team
2010–11 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team represented Harvard University in the Ivy League athletic conference during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Lavietes Pavilion, which has a capacity of 2,195. The...
team to a share of the 2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball season
2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball season
The 2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball season marks the continuation of the annual tradition of competitive basketball among Ivy League members that began when the league was formed during the 1956–57 season, continuing from the predecessor Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League, which was...
championship, which was school's first men's basketball Ivy League Championship since the league was formed during the 1956–57 season
1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball season
-Season headlines:* This was the first year where NCAA basketball was split into two levels of play – the University and College divisions.-Major rule changes:Beginning in 1956–57, the following rules changes were implemented:...
. Harvard finished the season a perfect 14–0 at home, which surpassed the prior season's school record of eleven home wins. The team's 12 conference game wins established a school record. The team's victory over Colorado
2010–11 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represents the University of Colorado in the 2010–11 college basketball season. Head coach Tad Boyle is in his first season at Colorado. The Buffaloes compete in the Big 12 Conference and played their home games at the Coors Events Center...
was the team's first ever against a Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
opponent since that conference commenced play in 1996. His fourth season also marked the fourth straight season that the team defeated at least one power conference opponent. Although Harvard never appeared in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Two human polls make up the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.-Legend:-AP poll:...
, for a few weeks during the season they received a vote in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. On March 7, Harvard received a vote in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. By finishing as Ivy League Co-champion, they faced Princeton
2010–11 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 2010–11 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Sydney Johnson, who was in his fourth season. The team's tri-captains were senior Kareem Maddox,...
in a one-game playoff
One-game playoff
A one-game playoff, sometimes known as a pennant playoff or play-in game, is a tiebreaker in certain sports—usually but not always professional—to determine which of two teams, tied in the final standings, will qualify for a post-season tournament...
and lost by a 63–62 margin. Princeton earned the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The following sites were selected to host each round of the 2011 tournament:First Four*March 15 and 16**University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OhioSecond and third rounds*March 17 and 19**Verizon Center, Washington, D.C....
automatic bid. Harvard earned an automatic bid to the 2011 National Invitation Tournament
2011 National Invitation Tournament
-Colorado bracket:-Boston College bracket:-Virginia Tech bracket:-NIT Final Four - NIT Semifinals and NIT Championship Game:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City-See also:* 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
. On March 15, Harvard was defeated by by a 71–54 margin in the first round. It was the school's first appearance in the National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
. The final record of 23–7 established a school record for number of wins, surpassing the prior season's total of 21. Amaker was again a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, was a finalist for the Hugh Durham Award
Hugh Durham Award
The Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award is an award given annually to the most outstanding mid-major men's college basketball head coach in NCAA Division I competition...
and was selected by the National Association of Basketball Coaches
National Association of Basketball Coaches
The National Association of Basketball Coaches , headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is an American organization of college men's basketball coaches...
as the District 13 Coach of the Year. He was named Ivy League coach of the year by College Insider.
On November 25, 2011, Amaker's 2011-12 Harvard team
2011–12 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Harvard Crimson men's basketball team representing Harvard University in the Ivy League athletic conference during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team plays its home games in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the Lavietes Pavilion, which has a capacity of 2,195...
defeated then-ranked
2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Two human polls make up the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various publications' preseason polls.-Legend:-AP poll:...
Florida State
2011–12 Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team
The 2011–12 Florida State Seminoles men's basketball team will represent Florida State University during the 2011–12 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Seminoles, led by 10th year head coach Leonard Hamilton, will play their home games at the Donald L...
(#22 AP Poll/#20 Coaches' Poll) for the school's second win over a ranked team in the program's history.
Head coaching record
Personal
Amaker is married to Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, who is a licensed clinical psychologist. The couple met at Duke. Amaker's grandmother is Annie Deskins and his mother is Alma Amaker. Amaker's mother continued to make him the sauce for his favorite meal of spaghettiSpaghetti
Spaghetti is a long, thin, cylindrical pasta of Italian origin. Spaghetti is made of semolina or flour and water. Italian dried spaghetti is made from durum wheat semolina, but outside of Italy it may be made with other kinds of flour...
and express mail
Express mail
In most postal systems express mail refers to an accelerated delivery service for which the customer pays a surcharge and receives faster delivery. Express mail is a service for domestic mail and is governed by a country's own postal administration...
it to him from her home in during his career at least until his days at Michigan. Because he is a finicky eater, she has to strain the green pepper and onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
bits out of the sauce using cheesecloth
Cheesecloth
Cheesecloth is a loosewoven gauze-like cotton cloth used primarily in cheese making and cooking.Cheesecloth is available in at least seven different grades, from open to extra-fine weave. Grades are distinguished by the number of threads per inch in each direction.- Uses :The primary use of...
. According to friend, John Feinstein
John Feinstein
John Feinstein is an American sportswriter, author and sports commentator who wrote the top two best-selling non-fiction sports books in history, A Good Walk Spoiled and A Season on the Brink.-Early life:...
, Amaker was politically left-leaning and Krzyzewski was the opposite.
Amaker earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
in 1987 from Duke. While serving as an assistant coach at Duke, he attended classes at the Fuqua School of Business
Fuqua School of Business
The Fuqua School of Business is the business school of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, United States. It currently enrolls 1,340 students in degree-seeking programs...
. At Michigan, his daily routine included breakfast at a local hotel where he read USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. At Harvard, once a month, he convenes for breakfast at the restaurant Henrietta's Table with a group of noted African-American scholars and businessmen led by Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
professor Charles Ogletree
Charles Ogletree
Charles J. Ogletree is Jesse Climenko Professor at Harvard Law School, the founder of the school's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, and the author of numerous books on legal topics....
to discuss sociopolitical issues. Amaker is known for his trademark mock turtleneck shirts, each of which has his initials monogram
Monogram
A monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
med into the collar, and for wearing a sports coat at each news conference
News conference
A news conference or press conference is a media event in which newsmakers invite journalists to hear them speak and, most often, ask questions. A joint press conference instead is held between two or more talking sides.-Practice:...
. Unlike most of his peers, Amaker avoids the press and won't do a radio or television show.
Amaker was enshrined in the Duke Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a member of the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
. During his time on the board he served as a member of the Men's Collegiate and Men's Senior National Committees, where he helped select members of the United States' 1996 Olympic
Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Basketball contests at the 1996 Olympic Games were held from July 20, 1996 to August 4, 1996. Games took place at the Morehouse College Gymnasium and the Georgia Dome. For the second straight Olympic games, the American men's team composed almost entirely of NBA players won the gold medal...
gold medal team. Amaker owns two vintage Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
cars and is a Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
fan.
External links
- Amaker archive at Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....