St. John's News

NORM ROBERTS LET GO AS HEAD COACH AT ST. JOHN’S

Red Storm join DePaul and Seton Hall in the Big East with a head coaching vacancy

After six seasons as the head coach at St. John’s Norm Roberts has been relieved of his position. The Red Storm finished the 2009-2010 season with an overall record of 17-16, including Wednesday night’s loss in the NIT first round at Memphis. SJU was 6-12 in the Big East.

“The University’s decision to part ways with Coach Roberts was difficult, particularly because as an administration, we recognize the efforts of Norm and his staff over the last six years,” Red Storm Director of Athletics Chris Monasch said in a statement. “We were at a low point in our program’s history, dealing with NCAA probation, a reduction in scholarships, the possibility of further NCAA sanctions and an expanded Big East Conference which would prove to be the most demanding in the country over the last few years. Norm restored a great deal of integrity and respectability to our men’s basketball program.”

Roberts posted an 81-101 overall record in his six seasons and the NIT appearance this week was the first postseason berth in his tenure. Roberts took over a program in turmoil with NCAA sanctions because of violations that occurred under former coach Mike Jarvis in 2003-04. Shortly after Jarvis’ firing embarrasment to the program hit an all-time high as several players went to a Pittsburgh-area strip club following a 71-51 loss at Pittsburgh and solicited sex for cash from a prostitute.

Roberts, the son of a former New York City police officer, came to St. John’s with a clean image and was tasked at cleaning up the program, which he has done successfully. However, in the end, he did not win enough in the ultra-competitive Big East.

“We appreciate Norm’s hard work to put a competitive product on the court and bring in student-athletes with great character,” Monasch said in th statement. “There is no doubt that we have improved during his tenure. We have a proud tradition of winning, still ranking among the top seven programs in the nation with a pedigree of Hall of Fame coaches like Joe Lapchick and Lou Carnesecca. At this time we feel a change in the direction of the leadership of the program will be of the best benefit to us in the long-term.”

A veteran-laden team that could have up to nine seniors on the roster will be in place for a new coach next season with only Anthony Mason Jr. graduating. St. Peter’s prep forward Ronald Roberts was signed to a national letter of intent last fall with their lone open scholarship. Roberts and his staff also secured a verbal commitment from 2011 NYC guard prospect Davontay Grace earlier in the winter. Grace told NBE at the Primetime Shootout (Recruiting Notes) last month that coach Roberts’ leaving would have him re-considering all options.

“If he’s not there no more I’d definitely open it back up,” Grace said back in February.

We will pay close attention to the Red Storm list of candidates as the job is certain to bring a lot of attention with the tradition and location of the program.

“Basketball has traditionally been New York City’s game, and we are New York City’s team,” said Monasch. “While high-level talent is certainly not exclusive to this part of the country, there is plenty of New York talent that we hope will continue to consider St. John’s moving forward. We believe that things can turn around for us relatively quickly if we are able to keep some of the city’s best talent at home for their college basketball experiences.”

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