By ADAM ZAGORIA & CHARLIE PARENT
With about two weeks before the start of the college basketball season, Manhattan College has parted ways with head men’s basketball coach Steve Masiello.
The news was reported by ZASBLOG Tuesday afternoon, and the University later put out a statement. Masiello will be replaced by assistant coach RaShawn Stores, 30, on an interim basis, the school said. Masielllo did not pick up his cell phone when called Tuesday afternoon for comment.
“We thank Coach Masiello for his service and wish him well,” Manhattan AD Marianne Reilly said in a statement. “As we look to building successful teams for the future — and with recruiting season beginning soon and Coach Masiello’s contract ending in April 2023 — we determined that it was the right time to begin rebuilding from the top down.”
Steve Masiello is no longer the head coach at Manhattan, per sources
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) October 25, 2022
Official announcement this afternoon.
Manhattan was picked to finish second in the MAAC this year, with fifth-year forward Jose Perez being named Preseason Player of the Year. The season starts Nov. 7.
Perez said via text he plans to enter the Transfer Portal and that many or all of his teammates will as well.
“I think everyone,” he said.
Via Tweet he said: “I wish this was just nightmare unbelievable decision by the school. Team is suffering more then anyone would ever know.
He added:
This has been a very tough day for me and honestly speaking coach was the most caring person I ever met he cared so much for his players and honestly speaking it would very difficult for me to put on a jasper’s uniform again if coach ain’t on those sidelines. Love you coach!
— Jose Perez (@showout_zayy0) October 25, 2022
Masiello, who played under coaches Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith at the University of Kentucky in the 1990s, joined Manhattan as an assistant coach in 2001 and left in 2005 to become an assistant coach under Pitino at Louisville from 2005-2011. He returned to Manhattan as head coach on April 11, 2011. At Manhattan, he achieved a record of 162 wins and 177 losses, winning two MAAC tournaments(2014 and 2015) and taking Manhattan to the NCAA championships, also in 2014 and 2015.
In 2015, he reportedly agreed to take the job at USF on a five-year, $6.2 million deal but when it was discovered during a background check that Masiello had never graduated from Kentucky, the school backed out and hired Orlando Antigua.
Manhattan then put Masiello on a leave of absence that March. In April, Manhattan reinstated Masiello and by May he had completed his degree work at Kentucky.
“We are committed to a strong basketball program and excited that RaShawn — a proven team leader – will be leading our veteran team into what promises to be an exciting season,” Reilly said. “As we look to the future, we will be looking to identify a permanent head coach who can help us attract extraordinary talent on and off the court and build for the future. RaShawn will certainly be a candidate.”
Said Stores: “Manhattan College is my school. I am grateful and proud to have this opportunity and excited about the season ahead.”
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