Joseph T. LeBlanc
Joe Gallo, the head coach of the Merrimack College Warriors Men’s Basketball team,was just named Jim Phelan Coach of the Year by the NEC. Gallo has led the Warriors to a Northeast Conference total of 14 wins and 4 losses this season. This is Merrimack College’s inaugural season in Division I athletics. Coach Gallo is in his fourth season as the head coach and has led the Warriors to three consecutive NCAA Division II tournament appearances as well as a NE-10 conference championship last season.
Gallo coached Division I before at Robert Morris as an assistant and at Dartmouth, but has never been a head coach for a Division I team until this year.
“Being able to achieve that at 39 is really great, and it is a lot of fun,” said Gallo.
Gallo brings a newer approach to coaching and it provides the team with new perspectives that work. He has a head coaching record of 81-45.
But he shies away from the credit.“The guys have put in a massive effort this season and they deserve this,” Gallo said. “We have a great coaching staff that has helped us succeed and they deserve as much recognition.” Micky Burtnyk and Phil Gaetano serve as assistant Men’s Basketball coaches.
Before coaching at Merrimack, Galo also played basketball at Merrimack from 2000-2004.
For more information on Merrimack College Athletics, visit https://merrimackathletics.com/ and follow them on instagram @merrimackwarriors for more updates on the Men’s Basketball team.
