Bio

Steve Demeo is entering his ninth season – third in his second stint – as Head Coach of Northwest Florida State men’s basketball for the 2024-25 season.

Steve DeMeo was named head men's basketball for Northwest Florida State College on April 4, 2022, making it his second stint with the Raiders after a brilliant tenure from 2013-19. DeMeo most recently served as assistant coach for East Carolina University during the 2021-22 season and was at St. John's University in the same role from 2019-21 prior to his time at ECU.

Possessing three decades of experience across all levels of the college game, DeMeo's previous time leading the Raiders was remarkable.  Coach DeMeo took NWFSC to a national title and was named the Spalding NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 2015.  Under DeMeo's direction, Northwest Florida State turned in a six-year record of 198-35 (.850), earned an additional berth in the 2017 NJCAA Final Four and advanced to the Elite Eight in 2016, 2018 and 2019
  
Under DeMeo's leadership, the Raiders captured the Panhandle Conference Championship five-straight years (2015-19) and earned four Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) State Tournament Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Since returning in 2022, DeMeo has managed to capture some of that success he experienced in his first six seasons at Northwest Florida. During the 2022-23 season, DeMeo guided the Raiders to another Panhandle Conference Championship, an FCSAA/Region VIII Championship, and another NJCAA national title appearance. Last season (2023-24) DeMeo and the Raiders advanced to another Elite 8, following a 29-6 regular season, which included second place finishes in the Panhandle Conference and FCSAA State Tournament.
  
Across his eight seasons at Northwest Florida State, DeMeo has collected FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Coach of the year honors five times (2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023) and earned Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year recognition six times (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023).

DeMeo was also tabbed the top junior college coach in the country by Basketball Times in 2018. He received the Red Auerbach Coach of the Year award at the 2017 NCAA Division I Final Four. On March 8, 2023, DeMeo was inducted into the FCSAA Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame for his long track record of success at Northwest Florida State.

A veteran coach with a track record of success, DeMeo also held lead roles at Division II Newberry College, as well as Monroe College and Bronx Community College. DeMeo has accumulated a 323-111 (.744) overall record as a head coach
 
Widely known for his recruiting acumen, DeMeo guided Oregon-signee Chris Duarte to NJCAA Division I National Player of the Year honors in 2018-19 while 53 of DeMeo's former players have gone on to play in the Division I ranks. In addition, all 55 of his sophomores at Northwest Florida State have graduated.
 
Prior to taking over at Northwest Florida State, DeMeo spent 17 years as an assistant at the Division I level, enjoying successful stints at Iona, Providence, UCF and Hofstra.  His longest tenure came at Providence, where he served as an assistant from 1998-2004 before being elevated to the position of associate head coach from 2004-08.  While at Providence, DeMeo played a critical role in recruiting Ryan Gomes, a two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection and consensus First Team All-American who went on to play the better part of a decade in the NBA.  Gomes was selected 50^th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2005 NBA Draft after scoring 2,138 points in his four years with the Friars and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2006.
 
During his time at Providence, DeMeo was named one of the top-25 assistant coaches in Division I by Rivals.com and helped the Friars to five postseason appearances, including a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament. DeMeo led the Friars' recruiting efforts and was instrumental in landing future NBA Draft selections MarShon Brooks, the 25^th overall pick in 2011, and second round draftees Herbert Hill and Marcus Douthit.
 
DeMeo followed Head Coach Tim Welsh to Providence from Iona, where the pair worked together from 1995-98.  During those three years in New Rochelle, DeMeo helped lead the Gaels to a 70-22 record and three postseason appearances, including a berth in the 1998 NCAA Tournament after going 27-6.  Iona qualified for the NIT in 1996 and 1997. In addition, the Gaels captured the MAAC regular season title every year and never had a season with fewer than 21 wins during DeMeo's tenure.
 
DeMeo's most recent coaching stop in the metropolitan area was at Hofstra, where he served as the Pride's associate head coach from 2010-13. In his first season at Hofstra, DeMeo helped lead the Pride to a 21-12 overall mark with a then-school record 14 Colonial Athletic Association victories and a CBI appearance. At Hofstra, DeMeo coached three-time Haggerty Award winner Charles Jenkins, who went on to play in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers.
 
Prior to joining the Hofstra staff, DeMeo was the head coach at Newberry College for the 2009-10 campaign. Inheriting a roster that returned just 2.9 points per game, DeMeo successfully recruited 10 student-athletes for the 2009-10 season, including South Atlantic Conference All-Freshman Team unanimous selection Ryan Barnes.
 
DeMeo spent the 2008-09 campaign as an assistant coach at Central Florida. At UCF, he worked closely with 2009 Conference USA Player of the Year Jermaine Taylor, who finished his senior season ranked third in Division I averaging 26.2 points per game. DeMeo also mentored Conference USA All Freshman Team selection A.J. Rompza.
 
After beginning his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Queensborough Community College (1988-89) and LIU-Post (1989-90), DeMeo received his first head coaching opportunity at Bronx Community College from 1990-93. In his first season at the helm, the Broncos claimed the City University of New York Athletic Conference championship.
 
From 1993-95, DeMeo enjoyed unprecedented success at Monroe Junior College, where he produced a 53-8 record (.869) in his two seasons leading the Mustangs. DeMeo earned National Junior College Athletic Association Region XV Coach of the Year honors following each of his campaigns in the Bronx. In DeMeo's final season, Monroe finished the regular season as the top-ranked NJCAA team in the country.
 
A native of Bayside, DeMeo earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

STEVE DEMEO HEAD COACHING RECORD

 *NJCAA National Tournament cancelled (COVID-19)

NJCAA National Championships: 2015

NJCAA Runner-Up: 2023

NJCAA Final Four: 2015, 2017, 2023

NJCAA Elite Eight: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024

FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII Championships: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023

Panhandle Conference Championships : 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023

NJCAA Coach of the Year Awards: 2015

FCSAA Coach of the Year Awards: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023

Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year Awards: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023

2023 FCSAA Men's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee