We kind of had a feeling that college basketball hadn't seen the last of Amanda DeMartino. The playing component was obviously done for good this winter with graduation looming and now past, but there were a plethora of ways DeMartino could stay involved. One of those was coaching, which is exactly why she recently agreed to be the Northwood women's basketball coach.
When the Judges' first ever NCAA tournament dance was ended by Bowdoin 59-56 in the second round last March, DeMartino bid adieu to Brandeis women's basketball. She had nothing to hang her head about. She finished her career on South Street as the school's all-time career assist leader. Now she will bring her tireless efforts to the up-and-coming Northwood Univerisity women's basketball team as their new and only assistant coach. Unlike many of the DI programs with multiple assistants, DeMartino will wear many hats in southern Florida. She will be in charge of academics, recruiting, scouting and travel affairs while also parlaying her playing days and experience to a young Northwood squad trying to become NCAA-certified next year. It was not long ago that DeMartino did not like the idea of coaching. She helped out with New Jersey AAU basketball and participated in recent coaching clinics, but being tabbed an assistant coach right after the 'Deis still seemed unlikely.
And on paper it was.
Northwood head coach John Thurston had over 150 well-qualified applicants for the position, but very few, if any, who presevered through four years in the DIII ranks and none who toiled tirelessly for a program with little fan support and few visceral rewards. Thurston was aware of DeMartino's passion and devotion to basketball;
hence her being the chosen one.
DeMartino is Thurston's only assistant coach and will play a key role in helping the rookie-heavy roster (only two non-first-year players) adjust to the college game. Who better to do it than DeMartino, who only four years ago was a rookie for Coach Carol Simon's Judges? DeMartino is pumped, excited, you name it to begin pre-season practices in the beginning of October. The bulk of the games are in Florida, so West Palm Beach will be DeMartino's home for the forseeable future. But she will always be welcomed back at her Brandeis home, not to mention sorely missed.
