Rudy D'Amico


Rudy D'Amico is a National Basketball Association scout, and former college basketball and professional coach. He was the head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, and he led them to the FIBA European Champions Cup championship in 1981. He scouts for the Orlando Magic.

Early life

D'Amico, the son of Italian-born parents, was born in Queens, New York, grew up in Astoria and attended Newtown High School. 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

D'Amico 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 1980 to 1991, he coached professional basketball in Europe and Israel, from 1985–90 with Pallacanestro Firenze 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 FIBA European Champions Cup 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.