Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Rudy D'Amico (born August 18, 1940, in Queens, New York) is a professional National Basketball Association scout, and former college and professional basketball coach, who coached Maccabi Tel Aviv to the European Champions Cup (Euroleague championship) in 1981. He scouts for the Orlando Magic.
Early life
D'Amico, the son of Italian-born parents, grew up in Astoria, Queens, and attended Newtown High School in Queens. He then attended Seattle University, and in 1961 won letters in both basketball and baseball. He also earned a master's degree from New York University.
Basketball coaching career
He was head basketball coach at Brooklyn College in the Knickerbocker Conference, from 1967 until 1977. In 1973, he coached Brooklyn College to the CUNYAC Basketball Championship, defeating City College.
From 1975–91, he coached professional basketball in Europe and Israel, from 1985–90 with Pallacanestro Florence of the Italian A League. He also coached Zaragoza of the Spanish League, and Bologna in Italy, as well as in the Puerto Rican Superior League. In 1981, he coached the Israeli Super League team, Maccabi Tel Aviv, to the European Champions Cup (Euroleague) championship over Synudine Bologna in the finals.
Basketball scouting career
In 1999, he became the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers' international scout, advising general manager Jim Paxson. In 2005, he was the NBA European scout of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He now scouts for the Orlando Magic.