Head coach Ed DeChellis got creative and went in a different direction when filling a vacancy on the Navy men’s basketball staff.
After veteran assistant Ernie Nestor retired, DeChellis replaced him with a strength and conditioning coach. DeChellis felt the Midshipmen needed someone in that area of expertise more than a fifth basketball assistant.
Joe Fondale had previously worked with the men’s basketball program, but he was part of the Navy athletics strength and conditioning staff and had several other sports to oversee. Fondale was reassigned to another position with the military and that was what prompted DeChellis to hire a person to work exclusively with men’s basketball.