Skidmore has selected Luke Flockerzi to become its head men's coach. Flockerzi is the assistant basketball coach/recruiting coordinator at Rochester and a former assistant coach at Amherst.

"We are thrilled to have Luke Flockerzi as our new men's basketball coach, " said Gail Cummings-Danson, Skidmore athletics director. "He is a proven recruiter who impressed us with his attitude, passion, and desire to succeed in the classroom and on the court."

Prior to Rochester, Flockerzi, who played at Grinnell, had two coaching stints at Amherst and one year at Sewanee. He coached at Amherst from September 2001 through August 2004. After a year at Sewanee, he returned to Amherst for the 2005-06 season where he was the only full-time assistant coach while the head coach, David Hixon, served as interim athletic director.

Amherst teams were a combined 101-21 with Flockerzi on the staff, playing in four NCAA III national tournaments with final four appearances in 2004 and 2006.

"Luke is a terrific young coach," Hixon said. "He has all the pieces. His impact in our program, which culminated in a national championship this year, was immense.

He brings experiences with him from some of the best Division III programs in the country. I believe he can bring Skidmore back to prominence in the Liberty League and to the next level.”

Flockerzi was the 2003 AFLAC National Assistant Coach of they Year. In 2004, he was selected to be the head coach of the New England Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Game.

At Sewanee, he helped the team to its highest win total and highest conference finish in the past seven years.

"I would like to thank Skidmore for providing me with an amazing opportunity," said Flockerzi. "Skidmore is an ideal fit for me and my goals as an educator. It's exciting to join an institution that I respect and a community that strives for excellence in all areas.

"I look forward to working with a department that is committed to that distinction both academically and athletically. It's a great time to be part of Skidmore athletics."

Flockerzi is ready to start working with the returning players. "I am excited to join a group of guys who are eager to succeed," he said. "Their desire and commitment was clear in our meeting and I can't wait to start moving them toward their goals."

He received a bachelor's degree in psychology from Grinnell in 2001 and earned his master's in sport management from UMass-Amherst in 2002.