Pete Lappas joined the New Jersey Institute of Technology men’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach in April 2023. He arrived at NJIT with more than a decade of experience at the Division I level, having spent the 2022–23 season as an assistant coach at Wagner College and the previous eight seasons at Fairleigh Dickinson University. At Wagner, Lappas contributed to player development and recruiting, while at FDU he steadily advanced within the program, beginning as Director of Basketball Operations for three seasons before being promoted to assistant coach for his final five years.
During his tenure at Fairleigh Dickinson, Lappas helped guide the Knights to two Northeast Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, including the historic 2019 squad that earned the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. He played a key role in recruiting and developing young talent, including five NEC All-Rookie Team selections and the 2022 NEC Rookie of the Year, Anquan Hill. Lappas began his coaching career as a graduate assistant manager at Temple University, where he was part of a staff that led the Owls to a 24-win season and an NCAA Tournament berth. A native of Pennsylvania, Lappas earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Boston College and his master’s degree in sport and recreation management from Temple University. He comes from a basketball family, as his father, Steve Lappas, served as a Division I head coach for 17 seasons and currently works as a college basketball analyst for CBS Sports.
