Desmond Oliver, a native New Yorker with 13 years of experience coaching in the collegiate ranks, joined the Georgia staff as an assistant coach in May of 2004.

Oliver came to Georgia after spending three seasons as an assistant at the University of Rhode Island. He had arrived at URI in 2001 with head coach Jim Baron after one season together at St. Bonaventure. In those three years of rebuilding at Rhode Island, the Rams went from an 8-20 campaign in 2002 to consecutive 20-victory seasons and post-season berths.

Oliver, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., is a 1992 graduate of Dominican College in Orangeburg, N.Y., where he was a three-year starter on the basketball team and its captain for the final two seasons. He earned a Master’s degree in student personnel administration from Buffalo State in 1994. While a student at Buffalo State, he began his coaching career as a varsity assistant and head junior varsity coach at Turner-Carroll High School in Buffalo.

Oliver broke into the collegiate ranks in his hometown under coach Jack Armstrong at Niagara University in 1994. While serving the Purple Eagles, he helped recruit Alvin Young, who went on to lead all NCAA Division I players in scoring in 1999 and who earned Player of the Year honors that year in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Oliver stayed at Niagara for three seasons before leaving to coach the 1998 season at Texas A&M. He then spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons at Cornell University before joining Baron at St. Bonaventure for the 2001 campaign.

Oliver is married to Annette Applewaithe, and the couple have a son, 4-year-old Dante Lamont.

Personal
Full Name: Desmond L. Oliver
Born: December 4, 1969 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Family: Wife - Annette Applewaithe; Son - Dante Lamont, 4
High School: DeSales High School, Lockport, N.Y.
Undergraduate: B.S. degree, Dominican College, Orangeburg, N.Y., 1992
Graduate: M.A., Buffalo State College, Buffalo, N.Y., 1994

Coaching Experience
Assistant Basketball Coach, Turner-Carroll High School, Buffalo, N.Y., 1993-94
Asst. Basketball Coach, Niagara University, Niagara University, N.Y., 1994-97
Asst. Basketball Coach, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1997-98
Asst. Basketball Coach, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1998-2000
Asst. Basketball Coach, St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, N.Y., 2000-01
Asst. Basketball Coach, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I., 2001-04
Asst. Basketball Coach, University of Georgia, May 2004-Present

Athletic Honors
Played one year at Genesee Community College in Batavia, N.Y., under coach Bill Van Gundy (father of Jeff and Stan).
Three-year starter on basketball squad at Domincan (1989-92). Captain of team in his last two seasons.