Patrick Beilein, a rising star in the coaching profession, has been named the 22nd head coach of the Niagara University men’s basketball program. Beilein brings an impressive pedigree to Niagara University as a former NCAA Division I student-athlete and with coaching experience at the NBA, NCAA Division I and II levels.
“Patrick Beilein has demonstrated as a player and a coach, on and off the court, that he is a person of high character and personifies our Catholic and Vincentian mission,” said Niagara University President Rev. James J. Maher, C.M. “His credentials as a coach and as a leader make him the ideal candidate to lead the Purple Eagles. I also want to recognize Simon Gray and members of our university community for their quick and thorough review of impressive candidates and for welcoming Patrick and his family to the Niagara University community.”
Beilein spent the last four years elevating the Le Moyne Dolphins, an NCAA Division II program in Syracuse, N.Y., to new heights. Under Beilein’s tutelage, the Dolphins qualified for the NCAA Tournament in three consecutive seasons (2017-19) for the first time since 1964-66, won three consecutive NE10 Southwest Division titles, and advanced to the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals appearance (2017-18).
“Our belief that Niagara Basketball is a powerful brand was validated by this search process,” said Niagara University Director of Athletics Simon Gray. “The interest in our position was international and the candidate pool was stocked with incredible achievements. However, it quickly became evident that Patrick Beilein is the ideal choice to lead our basketball program.”
A two-time Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year recipient, Beilein had a record of 77-41, including 55-25 in conference games, in four seasons at Le Moyne. His 67-24 record in his final three seasons was the best record in the NE10.
“My family and I are very excited to have this opportunity to be the next men’s basketball head coach at Niagara University and to be back in Niagara County and Western New York,” said Beilein. “I am so grateful to Father Maher and Simon Gray. From the beginning of this process, they have showed great faith and confidence in my ability to rebuild this basketball program. I am impressed with their commitment to the future of the university, the athletic department and our basketball program.”
This past season, Le Moyne won the NE10 Southwest Division title and was the top seed in the Northeast-10 Conference Championships. The Dolphins were the No. 3 seed in the 2019 NCAA Division II East Regional in their 14th all-time appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Le Moyne led the conference in fewest turnovers per game (11.0) and was second in scoring defense (66.1 ppg). Le Moyne was third in the nation in free throw percentage (.809). Three Dolphins were named to NE10 all-conference teams – Kobi Nwandu (second team), C.J. Asuncion (honorable mention) and Tom Brown (honorable mention).
The 2017-18 Dolphins had a record setting campaign. The Dolphins, who opened their season with an exhibition win over Siena, won a school-record 27 games en route to the program’s first-ever NCAA East Regional Championship and Elite 8 appearance. Le Moyne earned a ranking in the NABC Top 25 during the season for only the third time in program history. The Dolphins led NE10 in field goal percentage, field goal defensive percentage, scoring margin, and scoring defense which was also fifth best in the nation at 63.1 points per game. Four Dolphins earned NE10 conference accolades, led by Russell Sangster who earned his second straight Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Year award. Sangster was also named to the NE10 all-conference second team along with teammate Isaiah Eisendorf. Robert Jones II and Tyquan Rolon were each honorable mention.
The 2016-17 Dolphins won 22 games, which were at the time the most since winning 24 during the 1995-96 campaign, and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament East Region. Le Moyne led the conference in fewest turnovers per game, field goal defensive percentage, scoring defense, and scoring margin. Russell Sangster won his first of two defensive player of the year awards and was selected to the second team.
Beilein’s teams excelled academically, averaging eight student-athletes named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll each semester. Russell Sangster, a two-time NE10 Academic All-Conference selection, was named to the 2017-18 CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team to become the first Dolphin selected in 24 years. His teams were also involved in the local community. Each season, the basketball program supported the Syracuse Marine Toys for Tots Foundation during home games in December as fans donated toys for children in the Syracuse community.
Beilein served as the player development coach for the NBA’s Utah Jazz in 2014 after a two-year stint as head coach for West Virginia Wesley College, an NCAA Division II program in Buckhannon, West Virginia. He led the 2013-14 West Virginia Wesley Bobcats to a 20-win season, which was an eight-win improvement from the previous season. The Bobcats led the Mountain East Conference in scoring defense, 3-point field goal percentage, and 3-point field goal defensive percentage. Beilein coached three student-athletes to all-conference teams in his two seasons.
Prior to West Virginia Wesleyan, he spent one season as the director of basketball operations at Bradley University, an NCAA Division I program. He was responsible for developing, managing and implementing the team’s budget, coordinating travel logistics and served as the liaison to numerous departments on campus, including facilities, compliance, student-success and admissions. Beilein was an assistant coach at Dartmouth College for the 2010-11 season, when he was responsible for creating and conducting individual player workouts and development training, recruiting, game planning, scouting reports, and directing basketball camps.
“I am excited to meet the team, hire a staff, begin workouts, and hit the road recruiting,” said Beilein. “I look forward to meeting the Niagara University students, faculty, and staff. Kristen, Tommy, and I plan on becoming entrenched in the local community as we renew interest in Niagara University basketball one fan at a time.”
Beilein started his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Michigan, under his father and current head coach John Beilein, from 2008-10. He was a part of the team that was selected to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 for the first time in 11 seasons and defeated No. 7 Clemson in the first round.
Beilein was a four-year letterwinner at West Virginia University from 2002-06 where he played for his father John, who earned a master’s degree in education from Niagara University. A prolific shooter, he scored 1,001 career points to be one of 52 Mountaineers in the 1,000-point club and his career 242 three-pointers are third all-time. Beilein was a member of two NCAA Tournament (2005 and 2006) and one NIT Tournament (2004) teams. As a senior co-captain, Beilein helped West Virginia advanced to the 2006 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. As a junior, the Mountaineers reached the 2005 NCAA Tournament Elite 8 in Albuquerque where he was selected to the All-Region team. Beilein earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia in 2006.
“Patrick will elevate our entire institution by developing his program at a championship level,” said Gray. “We are thrilled to welcome Patrick, Kristen, and Tommy to Monteagle Ridge and Niagara County, home to several members of Patrick’s extended family.”
Patrick is married to his wife Kristen, an All-ACC women’s lacrosse student-athlete at the University of North Carolina, and the couple have a son, Tommy.
