After a tumultuous year that saw numerous players get into legal trouble and the team win only seven games, Hofstra has fired coach Mo Cassara and named Pat Sellers the interim head coach.
“We are very thankful to Mo Cassara for his hard work and dedication to the Hofstra Basketball program over the last three years,” AD Jeff Hathaway said. “Mo is a tireless worker and has tremendous passion for the game and the students that he coached. I personally want to thank him for his commitment to Hofstra Athletics and the University community during his tenure. We wish him the very best.”
Sources said Iona coach Tim Cluess would be high on Hofstra’s list of potential replacements. Cluess is a Hofstra grad and a Long Island high school coaching legend who has led the Gaels to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
“He will double his salary if he goes to Hofstra,” one industry source told SNY.tv.
Anthony Evans of Norfolk State, Orlando Antigua of Kentucky, Andy Toole of Robert Morris and Jimmy Patsos of Loyola are other options.
Cassara went 38-59 at Hofstra since being hired in 2010, 7-25 this past year. He will be paid the full amount left on his contract, according to Newsday.
“I would like to express how much I have valued and enjoyed the opportunity to be the head basketball coach at Hofstra University,” Cassara said.
“I appreciate the experience and challenge that I was given almost three years ago by President Rabinowitz, and have loved my time working with our administrators, student-athletes and staff.
“I would also like to thank the Hofstra fans and students for all of their love, support and dedication to what is a great and storied program.
“I want the entire community to know just how much I care about our student-athletes and this team. We have navigated through what has been a challenging season. I wish nothing but success to the athletic department, basketball program and supporters of the Hofstra Pride.”
In November, four Hofstra players were arrested and charged with second-degree burglary in connection with a string of dorm-room burglaries at the Long Island school.
This month, Jamal Coombs-McDaniel was arrested for marijuana possession. Also, Taran Buie was arrested a few nights ago for a traffic violation, according to Newsday.
After Rich Williams decommitted two days ago, Hofstra has six commits for 2013, who now must decide what they want to do.
Three of them attend St. Thomas More (Conn.) — 6-foot point guard Amadi Udenyi, 6-2 combo guard Marquise Moore of Queens and 6-7 small forward Gabe Levin.
STM head coach Jere Quinn told SNY.tv that the players “will think it over and go from there but they like the school.”
“They’re not rushing into anything right now,” Quinn said.
“We have…[recruits] committed, they were going to change face of program,” Cassara told Newsday.
