A former standout basketball player for the Rams, Lazare Adingono (pronounced Ah-ding-uh-no) returned to the Rhode Island basketball program in 2004 as an intern in the basketball office. In 2005, he was promoted to the position of director of basketball operations. Adingono has a myriad of responsibilities. He works with team travel, coordinates videotape exchange and monitors academic progress. He served as team co-captain as a senior, helping turn around a Rhode island team that had suffered through three consecutive 20-loss seasons. In 2002-03, he helped lead the Rams to a 20-11 mark and a NIT berth. The Rams topped Seton Hall in the first round, before falling to Temple in the second round. Adingono was the team's third-leading scorer, boasting an 11.8 scoring average as a senior. He was tied for the team lead in three-pointers with 59. Adingono was recognized with several URI honors after his senior year, including the Bill Woodward Spirit of URI Award and the Jackie Robinson Award. He also briefly played professionally with the Gallos De Pelea in Juarez, Mexico. The native of Yaounde, Cameroon was a member of the Cameroon National Team where he earned a reputation as an outside marksman. He signed a grant-in-aid to attend Rhode Island in 2000 but didn't arrive in the United States until January of 2001. Mastering English in short order, he earned Dean's list recognition in his first semester at Rhode Island. He earned a bachelor of science degree in 2004. He played in just 10 games in 2000-01, averaging 2.0 points and shooting just .176 from the field. After becoming acclimated to basketball in the United States, Adingo began to blossom in 2001-02. He improved his scoring average to 7.9 points per game, while shooting .389 from the field. Adingono is the uncle of Rhode Island sophomore guard Parfait Bitee. Also a native of Yaounde, Cameroon, Bitee signed a grant-in-aid with Rhode Island in 2004 after a standout season at Western High in Louisville, Kentucky. Adingono and his wife, Maureen, are the parents of a son, Lazare Jr.