Fayetteville State University Athletics

Luke D’Alessio was appointed as the 18th head coach of the Fayetteville State Broncos men’s basketball team for the 2019-2020 season. 

Luke D’Alessio has established himself as a highly successful head coach with a career record of 279-139 (.667). His tenure includes remarkable achievements at both Bowie State University and Fayetteville State University. At Bowie State, he led the team to a 30-5 record (.857) in the 2002-03 season, securing a CIAA Championship and a NCAA Final-Four appearance. His success continued at Fayetteville State, where he guided the Broncos to a 24-8 record (.750) in his first season and a CIAA Championship in the 2021-22 season. D’Alessio’s coaching career is marked by consistent excellence, strategic acumen, and the development of standout players.

He is known for his strategic acumen and ability to adapt his coaching style to maximize his team’s strengths. His approach emphasizes defensive discipline, ensuring that his teams are tough to score against, which is evident in the consistently low scores of his opponents. Offensively, D’Alessio focuses on team cohesion and ball movement, encouraging players to share the ball and create high-percentage scoring opportunities. He is also adept at player development, helping athletes improve their skills and reach their full potential. This is reflected in the numerous standout players he has coached, including All-CIAA performers and Division II All-Americans. D’Alessio’s coaching style is characterized by a balance of intensity and support, fostering a competitive yet nurturing environment that drives his teams to succeed.

In his debut season, D’Alessio led the Broncos to an impressive 24-8 overall record and a 10-7 CIAA record. The team excelled with a 10-3 home record, 9-4 away, and 5-1 in neutral venues. Highlights included a thrilling 100-95 victory against Lincoln (Pa.) and a strong run in the CIAA tournament, narrowly losing the championship game to Winston-Salem State by just one point.

In his second season, D’Alessio guided the Broncos to a CIAA Championship victory, showcasing strong performances in the tournament by defeating Virginia State, Livingstone, and Virginia Union. The season concluded with a tough loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the NCAA Atlantic Region Tournament.

The 2022-2023 season saw the Broncos continue their competitive streak with notable wins against teams like USC Aiken and Virginia State. Despite some narrow defeats, the team demonstrated resilience, culminating in a solid performance in the CIAA tournament, where they reached the semifinals.

In the 2023-2024 season, the team faced both challenges and triumphs, ultimately delivering a strong performance in the CIAA tournament. They defeated Bowie State and Virginia Union to reach the championship game, where they narrowly lost to Lincoln (Pa.).

Before joining Fayetteville State, D’Alessio was an assistant coach at NCAA Division I North Carolina Central University, where he helped guide the team to three consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championships and NCAA Tournament appearances.

D’Alessio has a rich history with the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), having served as head coach at Bowie State University from 2000 to 2009. During his tenure, he achieved a 199-96 record, a 2003 CIAA Championship, a NCAA Final-Four appearance, and a South Atlantic Regional Championship. He coached numerous standout players, including 13 All-CIAA performers and 3 Division II All-Americans.

His coaching career also includes stints at Division I Siena College and Loyola University of Maryland, as well as a season abroad with the UCC Blue Demons in Ireland. D’Alessio began his head coaching career at the Community College of Baltimore-Catonsville, where he compiled a 124-52 record and led the team to multiple tournament titles.

Inducted into the Bowie State Hall of Fame in 2017, D’Alessio is a native of Raritan, New Jersey, and a 1983 graduate of The Catholic University of America, where he played point guard and served as co-captain of the basketball team. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Catholic University from 1986 to 1992.