St. John’s head men’s basketball coach Steve Lavin announced the promotions of assistant coaches Rico Hines and Tony Chiles within his staff on Friday. In addition to elevating the duo within the men’s basketball unit, Lavin completed his elite and diversified staff with the official addition of assistant coach Darrick Martin.
Assistant coaches Hines and Chiles have been integral in every aspect of the St. John’s men’s basketball program since their arrival with Lavin in the Spring of 2010. Most notable has been the signing of the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class in 2011 and the No. 8 class in 2012.
In 2010-11, the Red Storm saw a return to national prominence by posting a 21-12 record, marking St. John’s most wins since the 2002-03 season, with six Top 25 victories, four over Top 10 opponents and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2002.
The duo have seen a pair of St. John’s student-athletes reach the NBA in only two years. D.J. Kennedy from the Class of 2011 made his debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2012 and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the offseason, while Moe Harkless was selected 15th in the 2012 NBA Draft – the first St. John’s player drafted in the first round since 2000 and the highest overall since 1992 – and will make his debut with the Orlando Magic this fall. Hines and Chiles have been central in acclimating the Red Storm’s eight newcomers to NCAA Division I basketball and campus life at St. John’s University since a majority of the squad arrived in July.
Martin’s addition gives Lavin’s staff a third member with NBA coaching experience (Hines, Golden State, 2005-06 to 2009-10; Special Assistant Gene Keady, Toronto, 2005-06). Martin, a 13-year NBA point guard, comes to St. John’s after two seasons as an assistant coach and player development specialist with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Martin, an elite-level standout on the hardwood from high school to the professional ranks – who was coached by Lavin in 1991-92 when Lavin was an assistant at UCLA – will be looked to by Lavin to assist in mentoring St. John’s young and talented backcourt.
While a member of the Timberwolves’ staff, Martin, 41, worked closely with elite NBA players such as Kevin Love and Al Jefferson under the tutelage of former head coach Kurt Rambis. In his role, Martin was responsible for assisting in the development of the team’s backcourt players, scouting opponents, game planning and game preparation and leading team practices and walk-throughs.
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