Scott Anthony Spinelli (born April 22, 1966) is an American

college basketball College basketball is basketball that is played by teams of Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. In the Higher education in the United States, United States, colleges and universities are governed by collegiate athle ...

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of Athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Coac ...

who was most recently the head coach of the Chicago State Cougars men's basketball team.

Playing career

Scott Spinelli was born in

Leominster, Massachusetts Leominster ( ) is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the second-largest city in Worcester County, with a population of 43,222 at the 2023 census. Leominster is located north of Worcester and northwest of Boston. Bo ...

. He is a 1989 graduate of

Boston University Boston University (BU) is a Private university, private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. BU was founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodism, Methodists with its original campus in Newbury (town), Vermont, Newbur ...

, where he was a member of the basketball team under coach Mike Jarvis, on a Terriers squad that advanced to the NCAA tournament in

1988 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

Coaching career

Spinelli began his coaching career on the prep level in 1990 at Milford Academy, where he spent three seasons as head coach. In 1993, Spinelli started the basketball program at The Winchendon School in

Winchendon, Massachusetts Winchendon ( ), nicknamed Toy Town, is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 10,364 at the 2020 census. The town includes the villages of Waterville and Winchendon Springs (also known as Spring Village). A ...

. He led them to two appearances in the

NEPSAC The New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) is an organization that serves as the governing body for sports in preparatory schools and leagues in New England. The organization has 169 full member schools as well as 24 associate ...

Class A Tournament championship game. Spinelli also produced numerous Division I players at Winchendon, including former McDonald's All-American Randell Jackson, who played in the NBA with the

Washington Wizards The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays i ...

and

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

. In 1996, Spinelli joined the college ranks as an assistant coach at

Wyoming Wyoming ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States, Western United States. It borders Montana to the north and northwest, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Idaho t ...

for a single season before joining the coaching staff at American from 1997–1999. In 2000, he became a scout for the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

, where he spent one season before returning to the college level where he served as an assistant coach at Loyola-Chicago, before joining Barry Collier's staff at

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

, where he was part of a pair of NIT berths. In 2006, Spinelli joined

Mark Turgeon Mark Leo Turgeon (born February 5, 1965) is an American college basketball coach. Turgeon served as the head men's basketball coach at Jacksonville State University from 1998 to 2000, Wichita State from 2000 to 2007, Texas A&M from 2007 to 2011, ...

's staff at Spinelli then served as an assistant coach at

Wichita State Wichita State University (WSU) is a public university, public research university in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate degree programs in more than 200 ...

for a single season before following Turgeon to

Texas A&M Texas A&M University (Texas A&M, A&M, TA&M, or TAMU) is a public university, public, Land-grant university, land-grant, research university in College Station, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of ...

. During his four years with the Aggies, the team won 102 games, and earned four-straight NCAA tournament berths. When Turgeon accepted the head coaching position at

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

, Spinelli once again followed him, joining his staff. In 2014, Spinelli join the coaching staff at

Boston College Boston College (BC) is a private university, private Catholic Jesuits, Jesuit research university in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1863 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic Religious order (Catholic), religious order, t ...

, under Jim Christian. On staff for six seasons, Spinelli would be named the Interim Head Coach at BC on February 15, 2021, after Christian's firing where he guided the team to a 1–3 record in the Eagles' final four games of the season. In 2023, Spinelli joined the coaching staff at Chicago State with Gerald Gillion. When Gillion departed for an assistant coaching position at LIU after the season, Spinelli was elevated to head coach of the Cougars. On March 7, 2025, Spinelli was relieved of his duties at Chicago State

Head coaching record

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spinelli, Scott 1966 births Living people Basketball coaches from Massachusetts American men's basketball players Basketball players from Massachusetts Boston University Terriers men's basketball players Loyola Ramblers men's basketball coaches Wichita State Shockers men's basketball coaches Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball coaches Texas A&M Aggies men's basketball coaches Maryland Terrapins men's basketball coaches Boston College Eagles men's basketball coaches Chicago State Cougars men's basketball coaches Sportspeople from Leominster, Massachusetts College men's basketball head coaches in the United States 20th-century American sportsmen