A weekly round-up of Atlantic 10 men’s basketball.
Xavier Announces New Deal With Men’s Basketball Head Coach Chris Mack
CINCINNATI – Xavier University Associate Vice President and Athletic Director Mike Bobinski announced today that the University has entered into a new agreement with men’s basketball head coach Chris Mack through the 2017-18 season. Mack, a 1992 Xavier graduate, is beginning his third year as the XU head coach.
“This is the most comprehensive agreement we have ever offered to a head coach at Xavier University and we are pleased to do so,” said Bobinski. “Chris (Mack) is much more than just one of the best young coaches in college basketball. We believe he is one of the best coaches in college basketball and that our program will excel both on and off the court under his leadership in the years ahead.”
“I have said many times that the commitment from our administration has been paramount to our success in college basketball,” said Mack. “Xavier is a special place and the support from (University President Fr.) Mike Graham, (Vice President) John Kucia, (Athletic Director) Mike Bobinski and the entire Xavier Community is overwhelming. As both an alum and the head coach, I am excited about the future of the Xavier basketball program.”
Further reading on the Mack contract extension
Mack’s contract sets Xavier record
CINCINNATI — Xavier and Chris Mack have agreed to a new seven-year deal that will keep the third-year men’s basketball coach at the helm of the Musketeers’ program through the 2017-18 season.
It also makes him the highest paid coach in XU history.
As a private institution, Xavier is not required to disclose the terms or conditions of coaching contracts. Athletic director Mike Bobinski declined to specify numbers but called it the “most comprehensive agreement” offered to an XU head coach.
“Chris has proven to us in a very significant way that he’s a very talented coach and he fits in well here,” Bobinski said. “It behooved us to make a very positive move to affirm that support of him.”
Thornton Accepts Assistant Coaching Position at Furman
CINCINNATI – Brian Thornton, Xavier’s Director of Men’s Basketball Operations for the past two seasons, has accepted an assistant coaching position at Furman University. Xavier head coach Chris Mack announced that he will fill the director of basketball operations position with Jeremy Growe, who has been a graduate assistant in the program the past two years.
“Brian has done an excellent job on our staff the past two years,” said Mack. “He is ready to take that next step on the coaching ladder as an assistant coach. He will be missed on our staff but what an exciting opportunity for Brian. As a student-athlete, Brian was the total package. He was a First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection. He was an All-Academic performer. He’s someone that players can emulate in every way. As a coach, Brian is off to a great start to what I believe will be a long, successful coaching career at the college level.
Tu Holloway Will Be Returning For His Senior Year
CINCINNATI – Xavier University junior guard Tu Holloway, a 2010-11 Associated Press Third Team All-American and the 2011 Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year, announced tonight that he will be returning to Xavier for his senior year. All of the underclassmen who have declared for the draft, but have not hired an agent, have until Sunday to withdraw their names from consideration and retain their eligibility.
GW NAMES MIKE LONERGAN AS HEAD MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
WASHINGTON, DC – Mike Lonergan is the new head coach for men’s basketball at The George Washington University, incoming Director of Athletics Patrick Nero has announced. Lonergan was introduced at a news conference at the Charles E. Smith Center on Monday.
“Mike Lonergan has the skills, experience and drive needed to take the GW men’s basketball program to new heights,” said incoming GW Director of Athletics Patrick Nero. “Out of an extremely talented national field of possible candidates, Mike distinguished himself as the right fit for George Washington University and the best candidate to lead our men’s basketball program to future success.”
“The opportunity to return to my roots in the Washington, DC, area and build a program at an exceptional school like George Washington was too good to pass up. The combination of GW’s strong academics, commitment to excellence and athletics tradition make it an ideal position, and I am eager to get started. I am committed to supporting and developing our student-athletes and building a program that will make GW proud,” said Lonergan.
Further reading on the hiring of Mike Lonergan
Mike Lonergan sees opportunity in changing DC college hoops scene
WASHINGTON (AP) — Times are changing in college basketball in the Washington, D.C., area. Mike Lonergan figures that should work to his advantage at George Washington.
Lonergan was formally introduced Monday as GW’s new coach. His arrival comes as Maryland searches for a replacement for Gary Williams, and while Paul Hewitt is settling in as Jim Larranaga’s replacement at George Mason.
Lonergan among Coaches vs. Cancer group honored at Yankee Stadium
Coaches vs. Cancer is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) that empowers basketball coaches, their teams, and local communities to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
In addition to Lonergan, the other nine coaches in attendance were Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Mitch Buonaguro (Siena College), Mo Cassara (Hofstra University), Tommy Dempsey (Rider University), Matt Doherty (Southern Methodist University), John Dunne (Saint Peter’s College), Mitch Henderson (Princeton University), Steve Lavin (St. John’s University) and Mike Rice (Rutgers University).
Lonergan was introduced as GW’s new head coach at a May 9 news conference and takes over a GW program that returns four starters and six of the team’s top seven scorers from last season. The Colonials went 17-14 overall, 10-6 in the Atlantic 10 Conference (tied for 4th place) in 2010-11.
49ers Participate in Shoe of Hope Event
Track and Field all-America Darius Law, President of the 49ers Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and Charlotte 49ers head men’s basketball coach Alan Major took members of the 49ers men’s and women’s basketball teams to Samaritan’s Feet’s Shoe of Hope event, April 29. The student-athletes distributed shoes and washed the feet of the recipients.
In January, Law had spearheaded efforts to raise funds and collect shoes for Samaritan’s Feet, a Charlotte-based organization that provides shoes to those in need both locally and around the world.
Duquesne’s Greg Gary accepts assistant coach position with Purdue
PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University head men’s basketball coach Ron Everhart announced today that assistant coach Greg Gary has resigned to accept an assistant position at Purdue University.
Gary, a native of Anderson, Indiana, is the third former Duquesne assistant under Everhart who will be coaching at a BCS school in 2011-12 joining Bill Barton (at Duquesne from 2007-08 through 2009-10; currently at Pittsburgh) and Richard Pitino (at Duquesne in 2006-07; currently at Louisville).
Gary, who was recruited as a Division I player out of junior college by Everhart in the early 1990s and was part of Everhart’s staff at McNeese State in 1997-98, was in his second stint at DU having coached on the Bluff in 2007-08 before leaving for a head coaching position at Centenary in 2008-09 and 2009-10. He returned to Duquesne prior to this past season.
Ramon Galloway Transfers To La Salle
PHILADELPHIA – Ramon Galloway (Philadelphia, PA / William Dwyer (FL) / South Carolina) has been admitted to La Salle University and will play men’s basketball, head coach Dr. John Giannini announced. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“Having multiple high level guards is an advantage for attaining high level team success,” Giannini said. “I believe Ramon will greatly strengthen our guard play both defensively and offensively. He is a proven player in major college basketball, he loves the game and will further develop his skills and strength. He will be a major part of a strong group of quick, skilled and unselfish young perimeter players to produce a winning and exciting style of play.”
Galloway (6-2, 175) averaged 10.7 points per game for South Carolina this past season, ranking third on the team. He added 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game for the Gamecocks while connecting on 44 three-pointers.
From PHILAHOOPS.COM: Galloway happy to be home
Ramon Galloway is happy to be home.
The Philadelphia native officially transferred to La Salle on Wednesday and is excited to spend his final two seasons in an Explorers uniform after playing his first two years of college ball at South Carolina.
“I’m glad to be home,” Galloway said in an interview with Philahoops Wednesday night. “We’re going to be doing some great things – great.”
A 6-foot-2, 175-pound guard, Galloway averaged 10.7 points last season for the Gamecocks, ranking third on the team. He scored in double-figures in 17 games, including a career-high 22-point outburst against Western Kentucky on Nov. 22.
Galloway made just four starts last season and decided to transfer after a postseason meeting with Gamecocks coach Darrin Horn.
“Coach just said that moving forward he didn’t see me fitting in sort of kind of what he was trying to do next year and stuff like that,” Galloway said. “After that I started opening up doors to try and get back home.”
Rookie season leaves former Minuteman, Gary Forbes, hungry for more in 2011-12
On media day 2010, rookie Gary Forbes sat in his assigned chair and watched reporters pass him by as they made their rounds on the Nuggets practice court.
To the uninitiated masses, he was considered little more than training camp fodder, someone who would be just another name on the waiver wire within a few weeks.
Forbes sat back and made mental notes. As a diabetic who went undrafted out of college despite being named the 2007-08 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year, he was used to being underestimated and overlooked.
The NBA would know his name soon enough.
Over the course of the next several months, Forbes established himself as a legitimate NBA player who could provide defense, scoring and energy while playing multiple positions. He dressed for all 82 games and helped the Nuggets go 8-3 in 11 starts.
UD’s on-campus practice facility to be named Cronin Athletics Center
DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton has announced that its multi-sport on-campus practice facility has been given a new name and will undergo a major renovation project this summer and fall. The facility, which is used by all 17 Flyer intercollegiate sports teams, will be known as the “Cronin Athletics Center.”
In addition, the University also announced a major renovation project for the second floor of the Cronin Athletics Center. Renovations will begin May 10 to create new offices, meeting spaces, film rooms and technology suites for UD’s most prominent programs – men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball.
When completed, the 9,000 square foot project will also create additional space for the Office of Academic Services for Student Athletes as well as UD’s other nationally-recognized athletics programs.
Hard work pays off for St. Joseph’s Taylor Trevisan
PHILADELPHIA – A trail of sweat slowly flowed down Taylor Trevisan’s exhausted body, following his every step as he walked down the corridor that leads to the office of head coach and face of the Saint Joseph’s University men’s basketball team, Phil Martelli. Each step, brought him a foot closer to a life-altering decision. But the call was not his. The decision was out of his hands.
Taylor had just completed an open tryout with the men’s basketball team. Before fall break, the men’s basketball team holds an open tryout with 20-30 prospective walk-ons. Walk-ons rarely play in games. They are what some refer to as practice bodies. Taylor knew this. In fact, Taylor knew the entire open tryout routine. This was his second open tryout with the Hawks. He had been through this nerve-racking experience his freshman year and it did not end well. He was informed he did not make the team, no one had.
The Hawk will never die: Joe Mreczko named Hawk mascot for 2011-12
PHILADELPHIA – Joe Mreczko has been selected to serve as the Saint Joseph’s University Hawk mascot for the 2011-12 season, becoming the 34th student to represent the University as its men’s basketball mascot in the tradition which has spanned 55 years.
Also, Nick Martino will return for his second season as the Hawk mascot for the women’s basketball team in 2011-12.
Mreczko, a native of Staten Island, N.Y. and graduate of St. Joseph By the Sea High School, is a fifth-year senior at SJU. He is majoring in food marketing and management and previously served as a team manager and Hawk mascot with the Saint Joseph’s women’s basketball program in 2009-10.
Salecich to Transfer to Missouri Southern
ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University head men’s basketball coach Rick Majerus announced today that guard Christian Salecich (Gold Coast, Australia) will transfer to Missouri Southern. Salecich had previously been granted a release from his SLU scholarship to pursue other opportunities.
“Christian is an exemplary student-athlete,” Majerus said. “He did a fantastic job in the classroom and always tried as hard as he could on the court. I know he will be able to play a more meaningful role for Missouri Southern, and he looks forward to that challenge. We thank him for his commitment to SLU and wish him nothing but the best in the future. We will always be good friends.”
Moore, Nicholson and Lyons on Rivals.com pre-season team
Nicholson was a first-team All-Atlantic 10 pick last season, when he averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He scored in double figures in 30 of 31 games and had five 30-point games, including a 44-point outing against Ohio U. Nicholson was a second-team all-league selection as a sophomore and was the A-10’s freshman of the year in 2008-09. He’s a career 57.6 percent shooter from the field, which ties him for first in school history with Bonnies legend Bob Lanier. He’s solid in the classroom, too, as a physics major; he had been majoring in chemistry.
UD recruit raves about program
Alexandre Gavrilovic loved his visit to the University of Dayton last week, is sold on coach Archie Miller’s style of play and bonded with the staff and returning players.
The 6-foot-9 forward from IMG Academy — who played on the French U-20 national team last summer — still is sorting through his college options, but he’s getting close to making a decision.
He said he’ll announce his choice before the end of the spring signing period May 19 or maybe even by Friday before he returns home to France.
Coming soon
Stay tuned for the first annual Pickin’ Splinters rundown of the A10′s incoming class. Fans can get an in-depth look at the new student-athletes to play next season in the Atlantic 10.
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Totally trivia: Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski is a former ND hurler and actually tutored yours truly on the art of the change-up when he as an assistant baseball coach for the Irish … back in THE day.
I am very interested to see the progression of Andrew Nicholson. This is a big off-season for him as he definitely needs to get stronger. He already has great footwork and a nice touch around the basket. But if he wants to play at the next level, he needs to bulk up more.
Smitty – check out this: https://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/051611aaa.html
Wow! Well good for him. I would have to think that witnessing Coach Prosser’s death will resonate with him for a very long time. I am sure that it is a difficult choice, but he choose what is more of a priority for him. It is impressive having the will to walk away.
I have to think this is going to be a major hit on Coach Mack’s staff.