Ralph Damerell begins his 12th season as an assistant coach on the RIT women's basketball coaching staff in 2024-25. Damerell, who brings over 30 years of basketball coaching experience to the Tigers, serves as the defensive coordinator.
He, along with former head coach Amy Reed and former assistant Mike Maiorano, were named the 2018 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Over the last four seasons, Damerell and the Tigers coaching staff have led RIT to 82 wins, three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament (2017-2019), and four straight appearances in the Liberty League title game.
Damerell was the girls' varsity basketball coach at Brighton High School from 2003 to 2012, winning one league title and one Coach of the Year award. He coached the boys’ varsity basketball team at Pembroke High School from 1982-1985, and from 1986 to 2000 he assisted with both the boys' and girls' programs at Wayland-Cohocton High School.
Damerell served one year as the men's assistant basketball coach at Alfred State College.
He holds a bachelor's degree in history and a master's in education from the University of Buffalo and worked as a social studies teacher for 33 years in four districts.
Damerell retired from teaching at Brighton High School in 2012.
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