By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
There was an elephant in the room to address before Chris Lowe interviewed for the St. Bonaventure men’s basketball assistant coaching vacancy.
Lowe sat opposite the Bona bench during the 2019 Atlantic 10 Championship Game, then a graduate student manager on Travis Ford’s Saint Louis Billikens staff. Lowe and the Billikens celebrated punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament at Bona’s expense that St. Patrick’s Day afternoon, outscoring SBU 30-19 in the second half to win 55-53.
It was Lowe’s first trip to the “Big Dance” after two NIT appearances as a player at UMass, but the 34-year-old will not flaunt his championship ring around the Reilly Center offices.
“(There was) a little talk here and there,” Lowe remarked with a laugh, “but we focused on talking about the program and school. We talked about how Coach Schmidt made St. Bonaventure a premier team in the A-10 and a premier team in the country.”
Lowe, who ranks fifth in Atlantic 10 history with 678 career assists, was a consummate candidate to replace Tray Woodall on St. Bonaventure’s staff. He holds degrees from two A-10 institutions, was a star point guard who carved out an eight-year professional career, and has paid his coaching dues. He served as an assistant coach at Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y. before joining the Billiken program, which led to an opportunity as a special assistant to head coach Lew Hill at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
“I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Chris for close to 20 years as a player of mine in Amherst and as a member of my staff in St. Louis,” said Ford, who coached Lowe from 2005-08 before moving to Oklahoma State. “His dedication to student-athletes, knowledge of the game and passion for basketball all make him a great coach and an ideal fit at St. Bonaventure. We are all thrilled for Chris and the opportunity ahead of him with the Bonnies.”
Lowe’s responsibilities at UTRGV included video editing, creating recruiting materials and scheduling prospect visits. His duties at SBU will entail recruiting, scouting and mentoring Bona’s elite guards. It’s a step up in class, to be sure, but Lowe is embracing the challenge and is looking forward to the Bonnies returning to practice in the fall.
First, though, he took time to celebrate.
“When Coach Schmidt offered me the position I was excited, I was happy. I couldn’t even say yes, I was so excited,” Lowe recalled. “I was jumping around, nervous and shaking, but it was great. I’m very excited to be joining a program like the Bonnies, with a great coaching staff and great student-athletes.”
The news of Lowe’s hiring was greeted by a few of his previous opponents, 2010 Bona alumnus Chris Matthews and 2008 SBU grad Tyler Relph.
Neither Lowe nor Matthews put on a classic performance in their lone head-to-head collegiate matchup on Valentine’s Day 2009. Lowe experienced foul trouble and played just 22 minutes while Matthews, who now goes by “Lethal Shooter” as he trains NBA stars on their form, was mired in a 3-point shooting slump. Nevertheless, Matthews scored 18 points and Lowe tallied 13 in SBU’s 83-75 victory.
Relph and Lowe share a bit more history, as Relph’s McQuaid Jesuit Knights defeated Lowe’s Mount Vernon Knights in the 2003 New York State Championship Game. Lowe led his Knights to the 2004 state title, gaining notoriety after limiting future first-round NBA draft pick Sebastian Telfair to a season-low 14 points.
Like Relph, Lowe was born in Rochester, living there until he moved to Mount Vernon at age eight.
“Shoutout to my man ‘Lethal Shooter.’ He’s doing his thing around the world, giving guys shooting tips and helping the best players,” Lowe noted. “And Tyler is out here being one of the best NBA trainers in the world. Not just NBA, but he’s training young kids as well, and college players.
“Me, Chris and Tyler always had a competitive nature because we played in the A-10… Me and Tyler have always been tight. That’s a guy I can call to talk to for advice, just talk to about basketball. It was great to see those guys give me a shoutout, show me love.”
Lowe and Florida alumnus Chris Chiozza are the only two college players with a triple-double off the bench in the last 13 years. Lowe is one of 11 Atlantic guards since 1992 to average 12 or more points and six or more assists in a single season while shooting at least 40 percent from the field. Two Bona guards fit that criteria: Jaylen Adams in 2016-17 and Kyle Lofton in 2019-20.
Lofton was close with Woodall partly because of Woodall’s playing accolades; Lowe and Lofton figure to establish an effortless rapport for the same reason. Lofton shoots more than Lowe did and played a condensed junior season, so with 250 assists to make up, he is unlikely to pass his new coach on the career list unless he returns for a fifth year. Lowe produced a collegiate and professional career Lofton can respect and strive to emulate.
“Chris will be an excellent fit at St. Bonaventure,” SLU assistant Phil Forte assessed. “He has a great ability to relate to young players and has great connections in that part of the region. He’s a great hire. He’ll help contribute to St. Bonaventure’s continued success.”
“I want to just bring my experience, help them see through different lenses,” Lowe explained. “The guys have been terrific. I just want to help them continue to build what they’ve started.”
UMass played in the Reilly Center in 2006 and 2009, splitting those contests. Lowe scored seven points on 2-of-7 shooting and dished four assists in the ‘06 victory and tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in just 22 foul-affected minutes of the afore-mentioned 83-75 defeat to his new boss.
The memories of playing in that clamorous environment excite Lowe as he prepares to be in the RC’s good graces.
“I just remember that it was electric,” Lowe reminisced. “It’s a home court advantage when that crowd gets going and gets rocking; it’s hard to hear. I’m looking forward to every home game being electric, for the guys to put on a show for the crowd and to interact with the community. That’s what I’m really looking forward to… They’re gonna go crazy.
“They can’t wait to get out to the Reilly Center. Neither can I.”
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