Saint Mary’s head men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett announced the promotion of Joe Rahon to Associate Head Coach.
Rahon has been an assistant coach under Bennett and on staff with the Gaels since the 2021-22 season. Since Rahon has been on staff, Saint Mary’s has earned a school-record four straight NCAA Tournament appearances, including single-digit seeds in each of those years.
“Joe has been invaluable to our program during his time as a player and now as a coach,” Bennett said. “Joe has a high basketball IQ and is well-respected within the locker room. This promotion is a testament to the hard work that he has put into coaching, development, and recruiting since returning to Saint Mary’s.”
A former WCC Defensive Player of the Year and two-time First Team All-Conference player, Rahon has been instrumental in helping guide the Gaels’ defensive efforts, which ranks among the nation’s best each year.
“I’m really appreciative to Coach Bennett and Saint Mary’s for the belief and confidence that comes with this title,” Rahon said. “I’m so grateful to be able to work at a place that I love and with people that mean so much to me. I look forward to continuing to pour everything I have into this program and into our student-athletes.”
Several Gaels showed huge improvements under Rahon’s tutelage, including two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis, and WCC Sixth Man of the Year Mikey Lewis. Former guards Tommy Kuhse and Logan Johnson each earned First Team All-Conference honors under Rahon’s leadership.
Despite playing just two seasons at Saint Mary’s, Rahon has his name all over the SMC record book, including an ninth-place ranking in career assists. He also posted the fourth-best career assists-per-game average (5.52) and his 1,293 minutes played during his junior campaign are the second most in Saint Mary’s history.
Once his playing days as a Gael were over, Rahon headed to Europe to begin a professional career that spanned three seasons. He made his debut with Limburg United in Belgium before spending his final two seasons in Germany playing for the Fraport Skyliners.
