Albany, N.Y. ? University at Albany men's basketball coach Will Brown announced on Thursday, Aug. 9 the hiring of Jeremy Friel as assistant coach and Kenny Dagostino as director of operations.

            Friel previously served as the program's director of operations since August 2005.  In that role he handled administrative duties, videotape exchange, travel, and coordinated the school's summer basketball camps.  As an assistant his recruiting areas include the western and southern United States, Pennsylvania and parts of the Northeast.

A native of Durham, N.H., Friel earned his undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of New Hampshire, where he was a member of the basketball team from 2002-05.  He gained a roster spot as a walk-on before receiving an athletic scholarship in his final season.

Friel, 24, played at Oyster River High School in New Hampshire.  He led that program to the Class I state semifinals as a junior and state quarterfinals as a sophomore.  His father, Gerry, served as New Hampshire's head basketball coach from 1969-89.

Dagostino served as UAlbany's video coordinator during the 2006-07 season.  He won four varsity letters as a member of the Iona College basketball team.  Dagostino captained the Gaels to the 2005-06 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance.  He was a walk-on who earned a scholarship as a junior and senior.  Dagostino graduated cum laude with a B.A. in business administration.

Dagostino, 23, was a consensus all-area player at Guilderland (N.Y.) High School, where he started for three years and finished fifth on the school's all-time scoring list.  He played in the Section II Class AA All-Star Game and was a member of the Suburban Council Exceptional Senior squad.