St. John's fires basketball coach Roberts

By LENN ROBBINS

Last Updated: 2:34 PM, March 19, 2010

Posted: 9:28 AM, March 19, 2010

Comments: 10

In what sources described as an excruciating decision, St. John's announced today that is not retaining coach Norm Roberts.

The Post exclusively reported the story last week but the official split did not come until Thursday night when Roberts, St. John's athletic director Chris Monasch, and Roberts' agent Dennis Coleman met at Coleman's office in Midtown.

Roberts told The Associated Press on Friday that St. John’s handled everything “with class.”

“They really tried to support us and give us what we needed to be successful and we were,” he said. “This program was in disarray in a lot of different ways and we were able to move it to postseason play.”

UPI

St. John's fired head coach Norm Roberts after six seasons and an 81-101 record.

Roberts compiled an 81-101 record in six seasons but didn't reach postseason play until this year's NIT. The Red Storm suffered a 73-71 loss at Memphis on Wednesday in a first-round game.

“To say it was a difficult decision would be to minimize it,” St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch said, according to The Associated Press. “Norm took over a program that was at a low point and at a time when there was a minimal amount of Big East level talent. Norm has restored integrity to our basketball program.”

Several highly placed sources told The Post the tipping point was the Red Storm's 59-50 home loss to Seton Hall on Feb. 17. Seton Hall went into the game without point guard Eugene Harvey, who had a hand injury, and lost leading scorer Jeremy Hazell to a lacerated hand in the first half, yet the Red Storm was outplayed.

Monasch said he would finish his evaluation of Roberts in a timely fashion and he did. No one at St. John's wanted this situation to linger because of the respect the university has for Roberts, who inherited a program at rock bottom.

“My wife and I appreciate the great opportunity to have coached at St. John’s. ... Having grown up in Queens, I never could have imagined being afforded the opportunity to coach at one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country,” Roberts said in a statement. “I do believe the program is in a much stronger position than when I arrived.”

The search for a new coach will begin immediately. The Post reported that Virginia Tech coach Seth Greenberg, a native New Yorker, is at the top of the school's wish list. Hofstra coach Tom Pecora, a local favorite with exceptional ties to the metropolitan high school, college and AAU hoops scene, also is highly thought of.

“We want to hire someone who has a record of success of getting into the NCAA tournament,” Monasch said, according to the AP. “In trying to find the right person, probably the safest choice is someone who has done it at this level, someone who believes in the mission of school and understands New York.”

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puck101

03/20/2010 5:31 AM

Hold open that job . It won't be long before Obama is looking for one. And we all know that he knows more about about basketball than he does about being President . ( or anything else for that matter )
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SJU70

03/19/2010 6:48 PM

If SJU means what Monash stated as far as salary is concerned for the new coach, then lets go out and test the waters with Donovan of the Univ of Florida. Instant credibility and success!Monash did what he had to do. One can not keep rewarding mediocrity in your BB program. Norm Roberts had to go and Roberts knew it and accepted it as the gentleman that he is. Go Redmen!
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Rev. AL SHARPESTSNIGGLET

03/19/2010 5:24 PM

"excruciating decision" my but!!! If this guy had abused young boys like Catholic priets have throghout the world, he would have a better chance of keeping his job and had no decision.
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Sondog19

03/19/2010 3:43 PM

I agree with all the SJU fans out there. Bring back the "REDMEN".
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Big Daddy Jones

03/19/2010 3:07 PM

"Monasch said the school is ready to offer a salary that could place the new coach among the highest paid in the country."

Is that why my daughter tuition is over $40k?
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jeml

03/19/2010 1:30 PM

Father Harrington should resign.
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zman007

03/19/2010 12:34 PM

I do not know what is more obscene: that he was fired for having a losing record despite running and program of integrity and graduating students (which one would hope is the goal of a college employee) or the fact that his salary is 6 times as great as a high school principal, 4 times as great as the school chancellor, 8 times that as a university professor, and at least $200,000 more than the median university president.
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maxwellf

03/19/2010 12:23 PM

I don't think it matters who coaches. They are suffering from the Curse of the Redman for giving in to the PC Nazis.