Siena Basketball Head Coach Jimmy Patsos has received a two-year contract extension from the College, lengthening the current deal through the 2020-21 season. All other elements of the contract remain the same.
“I love Siena, it’s a great place to coach and I’m grateful to be here,” commented Patsos, who recently concluded his third season at the helm. “I want to thank John D’Argenio and Br. Ed for the opportunity, and I look forward to continue building the program. Siena is a great school with a storied basketball history and the fans make this a special place to coach. John and I work really well together, and I’m extremely excited about the upcoming season with the team that we have returning and the recruits that will be joining us.”
Named the 16th head coach in Siena Basketball history on Apr. 3, 2013, Patsos has guided the Saints to a pair of 20-win campaigns and national postseason tournament appearances over his first three years. Patsos piloted Siena to a 10-win improvement this season which was tied for the 12th best nationally. The Saints’ 21 victories were the program’s most in six years, as Patsos led the team to its second College Basketball Invitational appearance in his first three seasons.
“Jimmy has made very good progress with the team over his first three seasons,” said Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D’Argenio. “The MAAC is highly competitive and the landscape of the conference has changed. We still have work to do, and continuity at the top with Coach Patsos leading the program is an important part of the process.”
Patsos led Siena to the program’s 20th 20-win season this winter. The Saints finished third in the conference with a 13-7 league mark, and advanced to the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament. Under Patsos’ watch, Siena developed into one of the nation’s top rebounding teams, ranking 15th nationally in rebound margin (+7.8), 19th in offensive rebounding (13.4) and 24th in rebounds per game (40.1).
The Saints navigated a challenging schedule, playing nine games against teams that finished in the top-85 of the RPI, and posted wins over St. Bonaventure (46), Hofstra (57) and Iona (85). Siena led all MAAC schools with a non-conference strength of schedule of 86 and made history by becoming the first team since the NCAA Tournament Field expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to open its season by playing its first two games against the defending national champion (Duke) and runner-up (Wisconsin).
Patsos oversaw the development of three All-MAAC selections this season, including two major award winners. Junior forward Javion Ogunyemi was tabbed the program’s first-ever MAAC Defensive Player of the Year and freshman phenom Nico Clareth was selected as the MAAC Sixth Player of the Year. Ogunyemi also earned Second Team All-MAAC accolades, while Clareth garnered MAAC All-Rookie Team acclaim as he broke the program’s all-time freshman scoring record with 447 points. Red-shirt junior forward Brett Bisping was named a unanimous First Team All-MAAC selection in addition to being heralded as a MAAC All-Tournament Team and an NABC District I First Team honoree.
Patsos wasted no time in reenergizing the Siena Basketball program in his first season in 2013-14. He orchestrated a 12-win improvement that tied for the second greatest in the nation and culminated in a CBI Championship. The Saints won 20 games overall on their way to securing the program’s first Division I national postseason tournament championship.
Patsos has accumulated 197 victories including 20-win campaigns in four of the last five years, while leading his programs to four national postseason tournament appearances in 12 seasons as a Division I head coach. Prior to matriculating to Siena, he spent the previous nine seasons (2004-13) at former conference foe Loyola (Md.), leading the Greyhounds to the postseason in his final two years including a MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013.
http://www.sienasaints.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/041416aaa.html
