Hofstra University Vice President and Director of Athletics Jeffrey A. Hathaway announced today that Head Men’s Basketball Coach Joe Mihalich has signed a contract extension.
In just two seasons at Hofstra, Mihalich has engineered a masterful revitalization of the Pride Basketball program as he took over a program coming off a seven-win campaign and in only two years has taken the team to a 20-win season in 2014-15 and a berth in the College Basketball Invitational. In addition, his attention to detail as it relates to the academic welfare of the student-athlete has seen the men’s basketball program achieve a perfect score of 1000 for the 2013-14 year in the latest Academic Progress Rate released last week.
“We are very pleased with the work that Joe and his staff has done over the last two years,” commented Hathaway. “When Coach Mihalich joined our staff he was the perfect choice and that thought certainly continues today. He has done an excellent job interacting and building relationships with our current student-athletes, prospective student-athletes, donors and members of the Hofstra community. Joe has enhanced our success in the classroom and on the court. The future is very bright for the Hofstra Basketball program under Joe’s leadership and I’m thrilled that the contract extension will enable him to be at Hofstra for many years to come.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two seasons here at this great University,” stated Mihalich. “I am thankful to Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz and Jeff Hathaway for the trust they have put in me. The mission is far from over but I know we are on the right track and I look forward to many more successful seasons for the Hofstra Men’s Basketball team. The program has made great strides on the court, in the classroom and in the community and my thanks goes out to all who have helped make our successes possible. We can’t wait for next season to begin. Go Pride!”
This past season saw Mihalich guide Hofstra to a 20-win season and the program’s first postseason berth since the 2010-11 season. The high-scoring Pride advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals where they dropped an epic double-overtime contest to William & Mary. The program garnered a slew of awards this past season as well as junior guard Juan’ya Green (first team) and junior forward Ameen Tanksley (second team) picked up All-CAA accolades. Both student-athletes, who transferred from Niagara to rejoin Coach Mihalich, were also named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District Teams with Green being a first team honoree and Tanksley earning second team accolades. Green was also a second team All-Met selection. Another player Coach Mihalich brought to Hofstra, graduate guard Dion Nesmith, followed up his first season at Hofstra with another strong year and was a CAA All-Academic selection and was chosen for the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team.
During his first season at Hofstra, Mihalich led the Pride to 10 wins and saw graduate forward Zeke Upshaw lead the CAA in scoring. Upshaw would also earn All-Colonial Athletic Association, all-district and All-Metropolitan accolades following his stellar season. Senior guard Dion Nesmith and freshman Jamall Robinson earned postseason CAA accolades under Mihalich’s tutelage as well. Hofstra also picked up its first postseason win.
Mihalich came to Hofstra after leading Niagara since 1998. During that time he won 265 games, earned a pair of NCAA Tournament berths and made three National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearances.
He enters the 2015-16 season with 295 career victories during his 17-year head coaching career.
http://www.gohofstra.com/news/2015/5/28/MBB_0528150241.aspx
Photo Courtesy Hofstra Athletics
