Hempstead, NY – Hofstra men’s basketball associate head coach Mike DePaoli has been named to the 2026 Silver Waves Media Top / Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistant Coaches list, it was announced by the organization today.
The annual list recognizes assistant coaches from across the country who have made a significant impact on their programs and the college basketball landscape. More than 40 coaches recognized on Silver Waves Media’s lists over the past four years have gone on to become head coaches.
The honor marks another recognition for DePaoli from Silver Waves Media after he was named to the organization’s 100 Most Impactful Mid-Major Assistants list earlier this year.
DePaoli is in his sixth season on the Hofstra men’s basketball staff and his second as associate head coach. He has been a key part of the Pride’s success under Head Coach Speedy Claxton, including four 20-win campaigns over the past five seasons.
During the 2025-26 season, DePaoli helped Hofstra capture the CAA Championship and earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001. The Pride won 24 games and produced three All-CAA selections, highlighted by CAA Player of the Year Cruz Davis and CAA Rookie of the Year Preston Edmead. Hofstra became the first program in CAA history to claim both major awards in the same season.
DePaoli has also played a significant role in Hofstra’s player development and defensive success. Seven Pride guards have earned all-conference honors under his tutelage, while Hofstra has produced four CAA Player of the Year awards and two Haggerty Award winners during his time on staff. Defensively, Hofstra has consistently ranked among the top teams in the CAA over the past five seasons, including posting the conference’s highest-rated defense in a 12-year span during the 2022-23 campaign, according to KenPom.
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