Craig “Speedy” Claxton is coming back to Hofstra.
Head coach Joe Mihalich announced his staff on Tuesday, and said Claxton will join the staff as the special assistant to the head coach.
“This is a very exciting day for Hofstra University and our men’s basketball program,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeff Hathaway.
“Further enhancing this staff is Speedy’s return to the Hofstra program where he lead the Pride to the NCAA Tournament. Speedy’s presence in our basketball program along with his work with the coaching staff will assist us in returning Hofstra to the NCAA Tournament in future years. We welcome Mike, Kyle, Shane, Colin and Speedy to our staff.”
Mihalich kept is Niagara staff intact by bringing over Mike Farrelly, Kyle Neptune, Shane Nichols and Colin Curtin.
“I am thrilled about the staff we will have here at Hofstra,” said Mihalich. “Having worked with most of them at Niagara, there is a certain comfort level and I know how skilled each of them is. I look forward to the Hofstra community getting to know them and seeing what kind of rising stars in the coaching profession we have on staff. To be able to have Speedy join the staff is an absolute home run. His extensive playing experience at both the collegiate and professional level, combined with his ability to connect us with one of the greatest eras in Hofstra Basketball history, will prove to be a winning formula as we grow the program moving forward.”
Claxton graduated in 2000 as one of only six players in school history to score 2,000 career points (2,015). He also graduated as the program’s all-time leader in both assists (660) and steals (288), and was a two-time Player of the Year selection in the America East Conference (1998, 2000). He was also named the 2000 winner of the Haggerty Award, given to the top player in the Metropolitan New York area, after leading Hofstra to an America East Conference championship and its first NCAA Division I tournament berth in 23 years.
Claxton enjoyed a decade-long career in the NBA. He was a first round draft pick of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2000, and earned an NBA title as a member of the San Antonio Spurs in 2003, when he was on the floor in the fourth quarter of the decisive sixth game against the New Jersey Nets.
Claxton has spent the past two seasons as a college scout with the Golden State Warriors. He will begin his Hofstra duties on July 1.
Release: Hofstra Athletics
