STANDISH, Maine - Rob Sanicola, a proud Saint Joseph's College of Maine alumnus and one of the winningest coaches in Monks men's basketball history, is in his first season as Head Coach of the Memphis Hustle, the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies. Bringing more than two decades of coaching experience with a focus on player development, Sanicola has guided the Hustle to a strong start while applying many of the principles learned as a player and coach at St. Joe's.
A 1999 graduate of Saint Joseph's, Sanicola began his coaching journey on the SJC bench as an assistant before taking over as head coach in 2003. Over the next 18 seasons, he turned the Monks into one of the most consistent programs in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), piling up 275 wins and earning seven Coach of the Year honors. His teams were known for defending hard, sharing the ball, and steadily developing players into All-Conference contributors. Under his leadership, SJC routinely found itself in the GNAC title picture.
Before he ever stepped onto the sidelines, Sanicola made his mark as a player at SJC. A guard on some of the most successful Saint Joseph's teams, he was a three-time winner of the Charles Warren Award—given for exceptional offseason work ethic. That reputation carried over seamlessly into his coaching career. Upon returning to "The Lake," his first four recruiting classes were loaded with promising, high-character talent, setting the foundation for nearly two decades of sustained success.
After almost two decades in Standish, Sanicola moved on to the University of Southern Maine, where he helped the Huskies push forward with back-to-back winning seasons—their first in more than 30 years. He then joined the Memphis Hustle staff as an assistant ahead of the 2024-25 season and was elevated to the head coaching position this fall. Sanicola has guided the Hustle to a 3-3 record thus far.
"This is an incredible opportunity," Sanicola said. "The G League is about giving players a platform to reach the next level, and that's what I've built my career around. The Hustle's commitment to effort, teamwork, and player development mirrors how I coach and what I believe in."
Sanicola has long been known as a teacher, recruiter, and mentor who builds teams around defense, discipline, and giving players the confidence to grow. His approach fits right in with the 'Grit and Grind' mindset Memphis is known for. With him at the helm, the Hustle will keep leaning into an aggressive, defense-first style, stay focused on development, strengthening connections throughout the Mid-South, and staying in sync with the Grizzlies' overall system and culture.
