Philip Gaetano joined the Coppin State men’s basketball coaching staff in June 2017 and is in his first season with the Eagles. His responsibilities include recruiting, player development, film breakdown, opponent scouting, and various other aspects.
 
Gaetano comes to Coppin after spending the previous season as an assistant coach with the Maine Red Claws in the NBA Development League. He handled player development, scouting, video breakdown and other duties for the Red Claws. The Red Claws went on to win a playoff series for the first time in their history in 2016-17. 
 
Prior to working with the Red Claws, Gaetano served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Sacred Heart University for the 2015-16 season. In his graduate assistant role, Gaetano was responsible for video breakdown, scouting reports, coordinating team travel. That season, Gaetano worked closely with All-NEC selection Cane Broome as well as All-Rookie selection Quincy McKnight. 
 
Gaetano was a standout student-athlete at Sacred Heart University from 2011-2015. Known for his high basketball IQ and passing ability, Gaetano holds the career assist record in the Division I era for the Pioneers. In 2012-13, Gaetano finished second in the nation with 7.9 assists per game. Gaetano led the Pioneers to two Northeast Conference Tournament appearances during his tenure.
 
Off the floor, Gaetano was equally impressive as he was named NEC Scholar Athlete of the Year for three consecutive seasons, a first for the league. Gaetano earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 2014 and completed his master’s in business administration in 2015. 
 
A Wallingford, Connecticut native, Gaetano led Sheehan High School to its lone state championship his senior season. That same year he was named a McDonald’s All-American nominee and still holds the career assist record at Sheehan.