Alfred University Men's Basketball

  Hired at AU: June of 2021 Prior to AU: Assistant Coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Assistant Coach at Oswego State Assistant Coach at Ithaca College Alma Mater: Wells College '15 Erich Kaempffe was appointed the 16th head coach in the 113-year history of the men’s basketball program in June 2021.   In each of Kaempffe’s first four years, the Saxons led the Empire 8 in scoring defense every year. From 2021-25, Alfred University Men’s Basketball has also qualified for the Empire 8 postseason four years in a row for the first time in program history. Alfred’s postseason winning percentage (.557) is the best under any staff in program history, while their overall winning percentage (.515) is the third-best ever. The team has achieved over a 3.20 team cumulative GPA every semester under Kaempffe, including a 3.55 cumulative GPA in Fall 2024. They have had 59 Empire 8 President’s List honorees and 13 CSC Academic All-District in the last five seasons, to go along with 7 Empire 8 All-Conference selections. Over the course of the 2023-24 season, the Saxons led the Empire 8 conference in scoring defense, ranking 67th in the nation. In the following season, Alfred University moved up the national rankings, placing 42nd among Division III programs. During the 2024-25 season, the Saxons ranked first in the conference in three-pointers made, finishing 38th in the country.   During the 2022-23 season, Kaempffe and the Saxons finished with a 22-7 overall record, making just the fourth time in program history the team has finished with 20 or more wins in a single season. Alfred University went on to win the 2023 ECAC Division III Men's Basketball Tournament, defeating #6 Allegheny College in the Semifinals before taking down top-seeded Alvernia University in the Finals. The Saxons finished in the top 50 in the nation in scoring defense (64.7 per game), scoring margin (+9.6 per game), three-point attempts per game (29.1), and three-pointers per game (9.3). Among the Empire 8, Alfred led the conference in scoring defense.   During his first season with Alfred University, Kaempffe led the Saxons to a 17-10 overall record with an appearance in the Empire 8 Championship Semifinals. Out of 420 teams nationally, the Saxons recorded one of their best defensive seasons in program history, finishing in the top 50 in three-point field goal defense (27.1%), scoring defense (64.1 per game), rebound margin (+6.4 per game), and field goal percent defense (40.3%). Among the Empire 8, Alfred led the conference in three-point field goal defense and opponent rebounding (33.3 per game).    Kaempffe arrives to Alfred after spending four years as an assistant coach with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s (RPI) men’s basketball program. Working alongside head coach Mark Gilbride, Kaempffe was instrumental in the turnaround of RPI hoops, as the team went 53-28 over the last three seasons, the best three-year stretch in the last 27 years. The RPI squads routinely ranked among the nation’s best defensively; the 2019-20 squad finished third nationally allowing 60.9 points per game. That team finished as Liberty League Regular Season Champions for the first time in program history with a 17-1 conference record, finishing the landmark season with an NCAA Tournament appearance, advancing to the second round to finish with a program-best 24-5 record and the team’s first-ever D3hoops.com ranking (No. 24).  Kaempffe and Gilbride were named as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year for their efforts.   In 2020, Kaempffe was one of only two Division III assistant coaches to be named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Under Armour 30-Under-30 list, which honors the top 30 outstanding college coaches in the country under the age of 30. In total at RPI, Kaempffe aided in the development of seven All-Liberty League selections, 2 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year recipients, and the 2019-20 NABC East Player of the Year, Liberty League Player of the Year, and first-team All-American Patrick Mahoney.   Prior to arriving at RPI, Kaempffe spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant at Oswego State. That team finished with a 21-7 record, winning both the SUNYAC regular season and tournament titles, and making an NCAA Tournament Appearance.   Kaempffe started his collegiate coaching career at Ithaca College, serving as a graduate assistant for the 2015-16 season. He earned his master’s degree in sport and exercise science and sport psychology from Ithaca, while team made an appearance in the ECAC Tournament Finals.   Outside of the college ranks, Kaempffe also has experience working camps and clinics at Dartmouth, Holy Cross, Siena, and Yale.   A 2015 graduate of Wells College, he played four years of basketball as a guard for the Express. A two-time captain, he set the school single season record for three-point shooting percentage (47.6), while ranking in the top 10 in single season free throw percentage, career games played, career free throw percentage, and career assists. He was the program's Lesley Mead Express Award recipient twice and a North Eastern Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete honoree three times. He also played golf, earning the team's Rookie of the Year award in 2011-12. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Kaempffe was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa before graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Business and Entrepreneurship.   A North Rose, N.Y. native, Kaempffe also had a solid high school basketball career at North Rose-Wolcott, as he was named the 2011 Wayne County Player of the Year and a two-time first team All-Wayne County selection. Kaempffe was additionally one of two Wayne County representatives to appear in the All-Greater Rochester Ronald McDonald game.    Empire 8 All-Conference Honors: 7 All-ECAC Honors: 1 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Honors: 13   Alfred University Overall Record Empire 8 Record Postseason Year-End Finish 2025-26 4-21 (.160) 1-15 (.062) NA 12th (of 12) 2024-25 14-12 (.538) 10-6 (.625) 0-1 Empire 8 Championship Quarterfinalists 2023-24 12-15 (.444) 8-8 (.500) 1-1 Empire 8 Championship Semifinalists 2022-23 22-7 (.759) 14-4 (.778) 3-1  Empire 8 Championship Semifinalists, ECAC Tournament Champions 2021-22     17-10 (.630) 9-7 (.562) 1-1  Empire 8 Championship Semifinalists Overall Totals 69-65 (.515) 42-40 (.512) 5-4 (.557) --

Hired at AU: July of 2026 Prior to AU:  Men's Basketball Assistant Coach at SUNY Cortland (2024-26) Alma Mater: Alfred State '23 The Alfred University men’s basketball program announced the addition of Gus O’Connell to its coaching staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026–27 season. O’Connell joined Alfred University after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the SUNY Cortland men’s basketball program. During his tenure, the Red Dragons captured back-to-back SUNYAC Championships for the first time in program history. In the 2024–25 season, Cortland posted a 17–12 overall record and secured the SUNYAC title with a road victory over New Paltz. The Red Dragons advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament, facing No. 2-ranked NYU in the opening round—marking the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in nine years. The following season, Cortland tied a program record with 24 wins, defeating Oswego to claim its second consecutive SUNYAC Championship. The Red Dragons went on to earn a first-round victory over Franklin & Marshall College in the NCAA Division III Tournament, advancing to the Round of 32 for the first time since the 2012–13 season. The coaching staff was subsequently recognized as the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, O’Connell has served as an AAU head coach with Hoop Group Elite Camps since 2024, where he has been actively involved in player development and mentorship. A familiar face in the Alfred community, O’Connell graduated from nearby Alfred State College in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in coaching. A three-year member of the men’s basketball program, he served as a two-time team captain. Over the course of his collegiate career, O’Connell appeared in 75 games, including 22 starts.  

The Alfred University men's basketball team announced the addition of Ben Reding to their coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2024-25 season. During the 2024-25 season, Reding and the Saxons qualified for the Empire 8 Championship Tournament, leading the conference in scoring defense. Following the season, the Saxons earned a pair of All-Empire 8 honorees.  Prior to AU, Reding served as a Men's Basketball Intern across the street at Alfred State College during the 2023-24 season. With the Pioneers, Reding was responsible for breaking down film, scouting, assisting with individual training sessions, and producing social media content for the program.  Reding, a native of Rochester, NY, previously worked as a Coach and Program Coordinator at Total Sports Experience, as well as being an Assistant Coach at the Sports Boosters Summer Basketball Camp.  Reding graduated from Alfred State College with his bachelor's degree in Sports Management while competing as a member of the men's basketball program. During his three-year career with the Pioneers, Reding appeared in 52 career games.