Rider University announced this week that Ryan Thompson will join the program as an assistant basketball coach and that Justin Pisapia has been named Director of Basketball Operations for the upcoming 2026‑27 season.
A Dual Hire
Thompson, a Rider alumnus who earned All‑MAAC honors three times and amassed 1,879 points and 188 steals during his collegiate career, returns after five years at Rowan University where he guided the team to back‑to‑back NCAA Sweet 16 appearances and a 90‑51 record.
His professional journey included stints in the NBA G‑League and overseas leagues across Italy, Belgium, Serbia, Turkey, Germany and Israel, giving him a broad perspective that he now brings to Rider’s bench.
Pisapia arrives from Albright University, where he helped the Lions to a 16‑10 record as an assistant coach, and from Penn State, where he served as a graduate assistant focusing on analytics, academic progress and data‑driven performance insights.
He holds a degree in coaching and performance science from West Virginia and a master’s in education from Penn State, credentials that underscore his blend of technical expertise and student‑focused leadership.
Together, the two new staff members are expected to reinforce Rider’s competitive edge, melding Thompson’s playing pedigree and overseas experience with Pisapia’s analytical acumen and operational know‑how as the program looks to build on recent momentum.