Known nationally as a tireless recruiter and enthusiastic floor coach, Steve “Rocc” Roccaforte enters his first season at Maryland and his ninth as part of head coach Buzz Williams’ staff. Roccaforte spent four seasons at Texas A&M with Williams and was part of his staff for four years at Virginia Tech as well.
“I met Coach Rock when I was 18 years old. He was the first Division I coach I ever met. Our relationship has stood the test of time because it is built on truth and trust. In a world where real honesty is becoming rare, he remains one of the clearest voices in my life,” said Williams. “His skill set is uncommon and growing more valuable by the day. He doesn’t just solve problems — he sees them before they even arrive. His experience as a head coach, and his value as a recruiter, are obvious, but he will touch every part of our organization and take care of our players with a level of consistency and care that never wavers.”
A veteran of more than 36 seasons as a collegiate basketball coach, Roccaforte made an immediate impact on Texas A&M when he rejoined Williams after he spent three years as associate head coach at East Carolina.
He helped Texas A&M reach the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons, while winning 20-plus games for four straight years. The four consecutive 20-win seasons was just the second time in program history to do so behind the 2004-11 squads that did so seven straight years. The three straight NCAA Tournament appearances also marked just the second time in Texas A&M history to do so as well.
Additionally, Roccaforte helped the Aggies reach the semifinals of the SEC Tournament three times including a pair of trips to the Championship game.
With Williams at Virginia Tech, Roccaforte spent three years as an assistant coach and one as associate head coach. He helped the Hokies earn back-to-back NCAA Tournament at-large bids in 2017 and 2018 and post three consecutive 20-win seasons (2015-18). He also helped the Hokies win 10 ACC games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since joining the conference in 2004.
Roccaforte has worked with some of the top coaches in the business and has recruited some of the top talent in the country. He has served under national coaches of the year in John Calipari, Perry Clark and Billy Tubbs to develop multiple nationally-ranked recruiting classes.
Roccaforte has helped assemble top 20 recruiting classes at seven institutions, including the nation’s top-rated class at Memphis in 2001. He also aided in the construction of a pair of top 10 classes at Lamar; three additional top 15 classes at Memphis, USF and East Carolina; and three top-25 groups at both Tulane and Virginia Tech. In total, Roccaforte has facilitated 14 top-25 units, including four top-10. According to former ESPN Senior Recruiting Analyst Dave Telep, Roccaforte is one of the 25 hardest-working coaches in the nation as well as one of the top 15 recruiters in the country.
During his career, Roccaforte has coached, signed or received commitments from 39 future NBA players including six-time All-Star Amare Stoudemire and 2008 NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins, along with first-round draft picks Dejuan Wagner, Antonio Burks, Qyntel Wood, Rodney Carney, Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Additionally, Roccaforte coached former NBA standout Mike James (Brooklyn Nets) during his stint as the head coach at Lamar.
Roccaforte is no stranger to postseason play, having served on the staff of 15 teams (8 NCAA Tournaments, 7 NIT appearances) that extended their seasons. He has been to eight NCAA tournaments at five different schools – Texas A&M (3), Virginia Tech (2), USF, Tulane and Memphis, along with NIT appearances at Tulane, Wyoming, Memphis, Virginia Tech and Texas A&M. He’s helped three teams to the NIT semifinals and was part of Memphis’ NIT Championship team in 2002 and the Aggies’ NIT finalist team in 2022.
Roccaforte joined the coaching staff at Virginia Tech following three years as an assistant coach at South Florida. He played a large role in USF getting a top-15 recruiting class for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons and helped the Bulls advance to the round of 32 in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to USF, Roccaforte was the head coach at his alma mater, Lamar University, for five seasons from 2006-11 after serving as an assistant coach for Billy Tubbs’ Cardinals from 2003-06. In his five seasons as head coach, Roccaforte’s teams posted a sparkling 55-20 home record, and he guided LU to its first Southland Conference regular-season championship in nearly 30 years in 2007-08 when he earned SLC Coach of the Year honors.
He also served coaching stints at Memphis (2000-03), Wyoming (1998-00), Tulane (1994-98) and Centenary (1989-94) to begin his career.
A native of Port Arthur, Texas, Roccaforte earned his bachelor’s degree in applied art and sciences from Lamar University in 1989. He has two daughters, Victoria Elise and Sofia Rose, and a son, Lucien Anthony.
Roccaforte At a Glance
Hometown: Port Arthur, Texas
High School: Thomas Jefferson High School
College: Lamar, 1989
Children – Daughters: Victoria Elise, Sofia Rose; Son: Lucien Anthony
Coaching History
2025-pres.: Maryland, Assistant Coach
2021-25: Texas A&M, Assistant Coach
2018-21: East Carolina, Associate Head Coach
2017-18: Virginia Tech, Associate Head Coach
2014-17: Virginia Tech, Assistant Coach
2011-14: South Florida, Assistant Coach
2006-11: Lamar, Head Coach
2003-06: Lamar, Assistant Coach
2000-03: Memphis, Assistant Coach
1998-00: Wyoming, Assistant Coach
1994-98: Tulane, Assistant Coach
1989-94: Centenary, Assistant Coach
