The Knox School is proud to announce the addition of Jared Grasso to its coaching and leadership team as our new Director of Athletic Advancement and Recruitment, and Head Coach of Varsity and PG Boys Basketball. The son of a legendary Long Island basketball coach, Coach Grasso grew up on the sidelines of his father’s Jericho High School and Adelphi University basketball practices. As a high school student-athlete, Grasso grew into a heralded recruit and McDonald’s All-American nominee at St. Anthony’s High School, and continued his education at Quinnipiac University, where he achieved hall of fame status after a successful college basketball career.

Grasso’s achievements in the sport at the higher-ed level led him to an impressive 21-year career as both a collegiate head and assistant coach, marked by unparalleled success in building programs, raising money and resources, winning championships, and developing talent. Notably, at just 29 years old, he became the youngest Division 1 Head Coach in the country at Fordham University. In addition to his tenure at Fordham, his early career included stints as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac, Hartford, and Hofstra, where he honed his skills as a recruiter and strategist.

Throughout his collegiate tenure, Coach Grasso led teams to six NCAA Tournaments, two National Invitation Tournaments, and 2 Collegeinsider.com Postseason Tournaments, showcasing his prowess as a strategic thinker and innovative developer of players. During this stretch of his career, Grasso recruited and coached over 75 student-athletes who went on to professional basketball careers ranging from the NBA, G-League, Europe, South America, Middle East, Australia, Asia, and Africa. 

Grasso’s latest coaching tenure was at Bryant University, where he orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, transforming a struggling program into a national powerhouse. Under his guidance, Bryant clinched its first-ever Northeast Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, securing a historic NCAA Division Tournament berth. Grasso’s offensive acumen propelled Bryant’s rise, with the team consistently ranking in the top 10 nationally in various offensive categories. Off the court, Grasso’s championship record, contagious leadership, and recruiting impact extended beyond the game, as evidenced by Bryant University’s record-breaking incoming freshman class following their 2022 NCAA Tournament appearance. 

Grasso’s adept fundraising skills also played a pivotal role in establishing one of the largest mid-major Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) Collectives in all of college basketball. These efforts further enhanced Grasso’s profile as a nationally recognized innovative leader in developing the scholar-athlete.

Prior to his tenure at Bryant, Grasso played a key role in Iona College’s unprecedented success, contributing to five NCAA Tournament appearances and multiple Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championships.  

“I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Head of School, Virginia Riccardi, for entrusting me with this exciting new opportunity at The Knox School,” Grasso stated. “I am eager to spearhead the transformation of the Knox Elite Basketball Development Program into a globally renowned hub for academic excellence, elite player development, and holistic student-athlete growth.” 

Beyond basketball, Grasso plans to “focus on providing a comprehensive growth experience, preparing our students for success at Knox and beyond.” Grasso explained, “I am thrilled to collaborate with our exceptionally talented student-athletes, and my family and I are excited to impact young lives within the tight-knit Knox family community.”