There is more than one face to the makeup of the latest head coach in Greyhounds' history. From the early days to the present, basketball coaches at Assumption College have exhibited a myriad of personalties and styles.

Tom Ackerman, an on-the-surface quiet unassuming type, from the rolling hills of north Pennsylvania, is in reality a fierce competitor toned down by his overwhelming confidence in his ability to win and the class he exudes daily.

You'll get a direct answer to all your questions . . . you'll know exactly where you stand . . . and, you'll probably lose the head-to-head confrontation during the game with Ackerman.

The head coach at Mansfield, PA University for 10 years, was named men's basketball coach at Assumption College April 27, 1999.

He is the 14th head coach in the history of basketball at the College that began its program in 1923-24. The Greyhounds have played in more post-season tournaments than any other Division II program in New England history!

He spent his first six seasons at Mansfield University rebuilding a once tradition-rich program that had struggled to win 13 games over the two-year period prior to his arrival. He exceeded that total in only his second year with the program posting a 14-13 record in 1990-91 and following with a 16-11 mark in 1991-92. He was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Coach-of-the Year in 1994-95 after a 14-13 season and the Mountaineers' first postseason appearance (E.C.A.C. tournament) in 10 years. His 1996-97 team finished 26-4 and ranked 10th in the nation in the final poll. He was named P.S.A.C. Coach-of-the Year a second time as his team finished in the N.C.A.A. tournament.

His 2001-02 edition of the Greyhounds won the Northeast-10 Conference regular-season title (18-4) after being picked for last place by the league's coaches. The 12th 20-win entry (24-6) in Hounds' history advanced to the final of the regional tournament before bowing out. The team was ranked 14th in the final N.C.A.A. Division II national poll. And in 2002-03, playing without his standout captain O Magee-Sharp, the Hounds finished 20-11 and earned another N.C.A.A. berth.

A 1979 graduate of St. Vincent College (Latrobe, PA), Ackerman played for the Bearcats in both football and basketball. After graduation he served as an assistant coach at Latrobe, PA High School for four seasons. He then returned to St. Vincent as an assistant from 1982-85.

At Bradford, PA Central Christian High he received all-region accolades while playing on a pair of state championship teams.

Following the 1985 season he was named Director of Athletics and head men's basketball coach at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford. The youngest person ever to hold those responsibilities at Pitt-Bradford, he built a highly competitive overall athletics program and led the Panthers to a 15-12 mark in his first year.

A native of Bradford, PA, Ackerman and his wife, Gretchen, currently reside in Rutland, MA, with a daughter, Meghann (18), and son, Patrick (12).