FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2004

Rhode Island College Names Jack Perri
Head Men's Basketball Coach

Providence, RI--Rhode Island College has named Jack Perri as its new head men's basketball coach. Perri fills the spot vacated by Michael Kelly who took an assistant coach's position at James Madison University in April.

"I am very excited about this opportunity," Perri says. “I’ve been working hard to get to this point. Rhode Island College is an excellent place to be. Coach Kelly got RIC going in the right direction and I want the team to continue to get better and contend for a championship.”

Perri spent six seasons as Bentley Head Men's Basketball Coach Jay Lawson's top assistant (1998-2004). Perri was part of the Bentley basketball program since his arrival on campus as a freshman guard in 1993.

A May 1998 graduate of Bentley and a team co-captain for two seasons, Perri replaced longtime assistant Jim Ferry when Ferry embarked on a successful head coaching career in August 1998.

"Jack has developed into an outstanding coach in a very short period of time," commented Lawson. "He has carried his passion, work ethic and commitment from playing to coaching, and his contribution has continued to grow each year. It's really been a great experience working together with one of my former players. I'm very proud of his development and potential to excel in the coaching profession."

As the assistant coach, Perri has helped Bentley reach the conference playoff semifinals four times, and the 2002 NCAA Regionals, with a six-year record of 106-69. He helped Bentley capture the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship in 2001-02. In 2003-04, the Falcons posted an 18-11 overall record and were tied for second in the NE-10 with a 15-7 record.

Perri played in 99 games for the Falcons during his five seasons at Bentley, which included a medical red-shirt year in 1996-97, his first as a co-captain. During his final season, he appeared in all 27 games and averaged 6.7 points while playing 18 minutes a game off the Bentley bench.

His top season statistically came as a junior when the 6-foot-2 former guard netted 9.1 points a game and buried 41 of 92 three-pointers (.445). That season came to an abrupt end when he tore his ACL with four games remaining.

Perri, 29, received a bachelor's degree in management in May 1998. A native of Manalapan, N.J. where he starred for Manalapan High School. He is currently engaged and resides in Franklin, MA.

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