State of the Gaels

State of the Gaels: Pitino tabs assistants; Johns retained

By: Jeremiah Clermont

Just days after Iona made headlines when it was announced that Rick Pitino would succeed Tim Cluess as the head coach of the men’s basketball program, Pitino waited little to no time in picking his assistant coaches for the upcoming season. Among those hired were Tom Abatemarco, Casey Stanley, and Ricky Johns. Pitino noted that “the most important part for me was finding diversity in age and experience.”

Speaking of experience that is what new assistant coach Abatemarco brings to Iona. With over 40 years of both collegiate and professional coaching, Abatemarco is easily the most experienced of the trio with head coaching stops at Lamar, Sacramento State and Drake.

This is not Abatemarco first stint at Iona as he previously served as an assistant coach from 1975-77 under the legendary coach Jimmy V. In between college stints Abatemarco also served as an assistant coach formerly for the Sacramento Monarchs and the Reno Big Horns. Among his many coaching highlights, he was part of the 1983 NC State National Championship team under Coach Valvano. The team defeated Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Cougars in the NCAA final in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in basketball history.

Perhaps, the biggest contribution that Abatemarco brings to Iona is recruiting as Abatemarco has a good eye for NBA talent. Past recruits include Spud Webb, Nate McMillan, Dell Curry, and Kevin Williams. The New York native was a graduate of Dowling College in Long Island.

For the next two coaches hired it is about two main R’s return and retention. And for Casey Stanley this is the case. After 10 seasons with six programs and 12 years of total experience Stanley returns home.

Growing up in Iona as the son of former long-time radio play-by-play announcer Gary Stanley, Stanley attended games. He eventually served as a four-year team manager under Jeff Ruland and Kevin Willard as an undergraduate and after graduation Stanley followed Willard to Seton Hall as the Director of Operations starting in 2010-11

From there Stanley went on to Louisville where for a year he served as the video coordinator for Rick Pitino and stayed loyal to the family as he followed Pitino’s son Richard at Florida International and Minnesota. He later served in UNC Wilmington where he helped lead the Seahawks to two CAA titles and NCAA tournament appearances.

Rick Pitino had nothing but high praises for Stanley stating that Stanley was a “tireless worker”, and alluded to the fact that Stanley “knows Iona College very well”

Stanley returns to Iona after working three seasons for Mike Balado of Arkansas State University

The second important R is retention. The only coach that is returning next season from Tim Cluess staff is fourth year assistant coach Ricky Johns. Johns has been with the Gaels since 2017-18 where he served as the director of operations.

Johns helped lead the Maroon and Gold to two MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament berth in his first two seasons with the program. Before Iona he was across town in Monroe College where for five years he worked in both men’s and women’s programs.

Johns, however, is no stranger to Monroe playing from 2003-05 and is regarded as one of the programs greatest players. He ranked second all-time in scoring with over 1200 points. He was also Region XV Player of the year and earned NJCAA Second Team All American honors.

Pitino stated that Johns “comes highly recommended by everyone on campus, as well people that I trusted in the business” while giving credit to his coaching and playing experience as assets to the program.

As all three assistant coaches from different experiences and highlights come together, it is hope that this would be enough as the Maroon and Gold would try to win its fifth MAAC title in six years while ultimately working to win the school’s first National Championship