Alvarado returns to Manhattan, joins coaching staff

Less than two years removed from winning a MAAC championship in his senior year, Michael Alvarado returns to Manhattan, joining Jaspers' coaching staff as special assistant to Steve Masiello. (Photo courtesy of Jaden Daly)

One of the architects of Manhattan's recent Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship success has returned to Riverdale.

Michael Alvarado, the fearless senior guard who; along with classmates George Beamon and Rhamel Brown guided the Jaspers to the first of two consecutive MAAC titles in 2014, has accepted a position on his former head coach Steve Masiello's staff, now serving his alma mater as the special assistant to the head coach.

"It's a great feeling to be back with the program," Alvarado said in a release issued Tuesday afternoon, confirming his hire. "It's a huge opportunity to give back to the players, as well as the coaches that once taught me."

"We are extremely excited about having Mike back as part of our program," Masiello stated, echoing the sentiment of his former floor general. "He is one of the ultimate competitors, and brings us back to our championship days. With a young team, he will be a big part of our culture and helping young players learn what being a professional is all about."

A Bronx native, Alvarado rejoins the Manhattan program only sixteen months after graduating in 2014 following a four-year career in which he amassed 1,170 career points, third team all-MAAC selections in his sophomore and senior seasons, and countless nights where the crowd on hand at Draddy Gymnasium knew to expect a relentless, unselfish outing from the man wearing No. 31, pouring his heart and soul into each play no matter the score. His hire also upholds Masiello's commitment to keeping the close-knit family atmosphere he has become known for cultivating, as he brought former Jasper guard Kidani Brutus onto his staff in a similar capacity prior to the 2014-15 season.

Although he enjoyed a two-year career playing professionally in Puerto Rico, Alvarado never really left the Jaspers, frequently returning in the offseason to help his remaining teammates; many of whom are still on the roster, during individual workouts, not to mention becoming a fixture at most regular season games as Manhattan became the first team since Siena in 2010 to successfully defend its MAAC championship.