Sam Serata joined the Tennessee State University men’s basketball program as director of player development in the summer of 2026. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey, native arrived following a historic 2025-26 season in which the Tigers ended a 32-year drought by winning the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advancing to the NCAA Tournament.
Working under head coach Nolan Smith, Serata assists with player development, film analysis and opponent scouting. He also oversees the program’s day-to-day operations, including team travel, scheduling and logistics.
Serata brings an extensive background in player development, including work with New York Knicks guard and 2026 NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson during each of the past four offseasons.
A 2025 graduate of the University of Maryland, Serata earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. While in College Park, he worked with the Maryland women’s basketball program under Hall of Fame head coach Brenda Frese.
Before his time at Maryland, Serata served as an assistant coach on Rick Brunson’s staff at Camden High School during the 2021-22 season, helping guide a Panthers team ranked by MaxPreps as the nation’s No. 1 public school program.
Serata was a first-team all-conference selection and scored nearly 1,000 points at Cherry Hill High School East. He later returned to his alma mater as a coach and helped lead the Cougars to a sectional championship.
