Jon Valeriano, a former starting point guard for SRU, will enter his 10th season overall as an assistant coach for the Slippery Rock University basketball program in 2025-26.
Following an outstanding collegiate career, Valeriano spent two years as a graduate assistant at The Rock before returning to SRU as a fulltime assistant for the 2018-19 season. As an assistant for SRU, both - graduate and fulltime -Valeriano has helped The Rock compile a 140-98 (.588) record with eight postseason berths.
CAREER AT A GLANCE
• As head coach Ian Grady’s top assistant, Valeriano plays a vital role in all facets of the program.
• Slippery Rock is 140-98 (.588) with Valeriano as an assistant.
• During his time at The Rock, SRU has made the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament eight times as well as one NCAA Tournament berth (2014-15) and an ECAC Tournament bid in 2013-14.
• 14 SRU student-athletes have earned All-PSAC West accolades during Valeriano’s tenure at Slippery Rock as well as two all-region honorees in Micah Till (2018-19) and Antonio Butler (2014-15).
• SRU men’s basketball has recorded above 3.0 team GPAs in four of the last seven seasons.
COACHING TIMELINE
• 2012-13: Slippery Rock (Student Assistant)
• 2013-15: Slippery Rock (Graduate Assistant Coach)
• 2015-16: Scotland Performance Institute (Director of Performance / Assistant Coach)
• 2016-17: Allegheny College (Assistant Coach)
• 2017-19: Community College of Beaver County (Assistant Coach)
• 2019-Present: Slippery Rock (Assistant Coach)
CAREER PATH
• Prior to joining the staff at SRU in 2019, Valeriano spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC). Valeriano helped guide the Titans to an impressive 50-8 (.862) record that included a pair of appearances in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.
• In addition to his coaching duties, Valeriano also developed and implemented the team’s strength and conditioning program.
• At the Scotland Performance Institute, where he was also the Director of Performance in addition to his coaching duties, Valeriano helped players move on to seven NCAA Division I institutions (Detroit Mercy, Florida Atlantic, Manhattan, Northwestern State, San Diego, Towson and UNLV) as well as four Division II schools (Concord, Georgian Court, Ouachita Baptist and Shippensburg).
ATHLETIC CAREER
• Began collegiate career at the Community College of Allegheny County where he earned National Junior College Athletic Association Division III honorable mention All-America and first-team all-region honors in 2009-10.
• Transferred to The Rock for final two collegiate seasons, starting 50 of 53 games played for Slippery Rock and averaging 7.1 points, 3.1 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game
• Shot 42.9 percent from the field overall, 43.3 percent from 3-point range and 80 percent at the free throw line.
• Graduated as the program’s all-time leader in 3-point shooting percentage while also ranking ninth all-time in assists per game.
• SRU was 38-21 during Valeriano’s tenure, which included an NCAA Tournament berth in 2010-11.
PERSONAL
• Native of Pittsburgh.
• Earned Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Slippery Rock in 2013.
• Also received Master’s degree in Parks and Resource Management from SRU in 2015.
