Hays Fort Taps Fernandez from Florida Preps, D’Amico from Professional Ranks
(Hamilton, NY – July 2013) Colgate head coach Nicci Hays Fort announced this weekend the completion of her 2013-14 coaching staff with the additions of Lazaro Fernandez and Melissa D’Amico.
“These two coaches will be valuable additions to the Colgate women’s basketball program,” Hays Fort said. “I am excited to welcome Laz and Melissa to our staff.”
Fernandez coached in the same athletics department as Hays Fort at Division II Barry in the Miami area. Hays Fort served from 2002-06 as women’s head coach, while Fernandez was a men’s assistant for the Buccaneers from 2002-04.
“Laz has been coaching for more than 10 years at many different levels,” Hays Fort said. “His experience as a head coach and in his many other roles will provide great insight to our program.
“Laz truly embraces being able to recruit and coach the quality of student-athlete we are able to attract to Colgate. His relentless work ethic will aid in the positive direction of Colgate Women’s Basketball.”
Hays Fort and D’Amico faced off against each other as rivals in the Big East Conference. Hays Fort served from 2005-10 as associate head coach at DePaul, while D’Amico lettered four seasons at Notre Dame under head coach Muffet McGraw from 2004-08.
“Melissa’s experience at Notre Dame provides our student-athletes with first-hand experience on playing at an elite level both in college and the professional ranks,” Hays Fort said. “Her accomplishments and success both on the court and in the classroom while at Notre Dame make her a great fit for our staff.
“Melissa is a great role model for our student-athletes with the loyalty, dedication and competitive spirit she brings to the program.”
College and High School Experience
Fernandez comes to the Raiders after five years of coaching in the Florida high school ranks, the last three as women’s basketball head coach at Florida Christian School. The Miami school promoted him to assistant the athletics director in October 2012. From 2006-10, Fernandez also served as athletics director at three additional schools: The Hebrew Academy in Miami Beach, Hollywood Christian School and Miami Christian School. He was the boys basketball head coach at The Hebrew Academy and Miami Christian.
During his five seasons of coaching, Fernandez posted a career record of 106-52 that included four FHSAA state tournament appearances. He was named 2010-11 Class 4A-1A Girls Basketball Coach of the Year by both the Miami Herald and Miami Hispanic Coaches Association.
After his two-year stint at Barry and before moving to the high school ranks, Fernandez spent two seasons at the University of Miami as video coordinator and one as the program’s director of women’s basketball operations. The first season was on the staff of head coach Fern Labati, with the second under Katie Meier.
The Miami native earned his sport management undergraduate degree in 2002 from Taylor University in Indiana, completed his master’s in sport management at Barry in 2004, and currently is in the dissertation stage for his doctorate in higher education administration.
“It is a privilege to come and work for one of the most respected people in collegiate women’s basketball,” Fernandez said. “Coach Hays Fort is a competitor in every aspect of life. Because of her mindset, we are and will be successful.
“The fact that it is here at Colgate University, one of the best college settings in the country, is a blessing.”
Fernandez and his wife, the former Maria Jimenez of Managua, Nicaragua, are the parents of one daughter, Gabriella.
From the Irish to the Pros
D’Amico’s overseas professional basketball playing experience dates to 2008, and she has made stops in Spain, China, Greece, Poland and the Czech Republic. Her most recent club was DSK Karlin in Prague since last August.
D’Amico played in 119 games for the Fighting Irish, starting 58. Notre Dame in those four years made an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, was 86-41 overall and 43-21 in the Big East Conference.
A native of the Long Island hamlet of Manorville, N.Y., D’Amico when not playing has been a frequent coach and camp counselor. She was an assistant with a pair of Czech Republic junior national teams, DSK Karlin in Prague and Slovanka in Vodochody. Back in the States, she has worked with Training for Success in Northport, N.Y., the Northport Lady Tiger Basketball Camp, the Stony Brook University Men’s and Women’s Basketball Camps and the Long Island Renegades U15 AAU team.
D’Amico describes her key skills as a coach as sports enhancement and agility training, player development, practice and game planning, scouting report and player evaluations, and individual and team workouts.
“I’m so excited to be a part of the Hamilton community and Colgate women’s basketball program,” D’Amico said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play under a number of successful head coaches throughout my playing career, and now to be able to work under a mentor like Nicci is a dream come true.
“Her reputation speaks for itself, and she is great at what she does. It’s amazing how the world works; I played against Nicci while she was coaching at DePaul. We never officially met and I never imagined then that I would be working for her now, but I’m grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to see this program’s success over the next few years.”
Colgate last year finished 10-21 for a two-game improvement in wins over the previous season, and upset top-seeded Army on the road to advance to its first Patriot League semifinal since 2007.