Davey era ended

By Cecile Nguyen

The Dick Davey era of Santa Clara basketball is officially over.

Sam Scuilli has resigned his post as the men's basketball assistant coach.

Scuilli was the longest tenured basketball coach at Santa Clara and was the last remaining coach from Davey's coaching staff after Assistant Coaches Steve Seandel and Lloyd Pierce were not selected to stay on staff when Kerry Keating took over the program last fall.

Scuilli, who could not be reached for comment, was said to have left for personal reasons.

The 35-year-old spent 12 seasons at Santa Clara, 11 of those years with Davey.

"We'll miss him terribly," Athletic Director Dan Coonan said. "Sam is a phenomenal person and it's tough to see him go. He could have stayed," Coonan added.

Scuilli's duties under Davey were focused primarily on the program's defensive game plan, but he also assisted with scouting, recruiting and player development.

The New Jersey native began his coaching career in 1994 as a graduate assistant coach at Santa Clara, where he spent four seasons with the Broncos before leaving for Portland State.

After two seasons in Portland, also as an assistant coach, Scuilli returned to Santa Clara and was reunited with Davey.

Scuilli was the last remaining assistant coach from Davey's years as head coach. His resignation marks a new era for Bronco basketball.

Also leaving is top Assistant Coach Lamont Smith, who will bean assistant coach at Arizona State in the fall.

Smith spent six years working under Randy Bennett at Saint Mary's College before joining Keating at Santa Clara as the lead assistant coach last season.

Contact Cecile Nguyen at (408) 551-1918 or sports@thesantaclara.com.