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Rumor becomes reality for St. John’s
Red Storm launches national search for new men’s hoops coach after Mullin calls it quits
BY STEPHEN LEPORE
After leading the St.
John’s Red Storm men’s
basketball program back to
the NCAA Tournament for
the first time since 2015,
Chris Mullin has decided to
move on.
The university’s Director
of Athletics Mike Cragg
announced Tuesday that
Mullin has submitted his
resignation to University
President Conrado “Bobby”
Gempesaw after serving as
the program’s head coach
after four seasons.
“The past four years
at St. John’s University
have been one of the most
thrilling and challenging
points of my career,”
Mullin said in a statement.
“Today, I have chosen to
ask President Gempesaw
and the University to accept
my decision to step down
from coaching.”
St. John’s thanked
Mullin and announced
that a “national search”
will begin immediately for
his successor.
“We thank Coach Mullin
for all of his contributions
to our men’s basketball
program,” said Cragg. “St.
John’s basketball progressed
well during his tenure,
culminating with a trip to
the NCAA Tournament this
past season. Coach Mullin
has a deep passion for this
program and he has been
committed to helping our
student-athletes achieve
their goals on and off the
court, so I know this was not
an easy decision. We wish
him and his family nothing
but the best as he begins this
new chapter of his life.”
“We are proud to celebrate
the accomplishments of
our student-athletes over
the past four seasons under
Coach Mullin,” said Conrado
“Bobby” Gempesaw, Ph.D.,
President, St. John’s
University. “The University
community has grown closer,
there has been excitement
throughout campus, and
an increase in school spirit
and game attendance both
at Carnesecca Arena and
Madison Square Garden. We
thank Chris for his service to
our University and wish him
and his family the best.”
Mullin, himself a St.
John’s alumnus who took the
program to the Final Four
as a player in 1985, finishes
his St. John’s career with a
record of 59-73, but one that
finished with a 21-13 season
in 2018-19 and an NCAA
Tournament bid, which
ended with the program’s
loss in the “First Four”
round to Arizona State.
It took a couple of seasons
for Mullin to build the
program back up, but signs
were promising in 2017-18,
when the Red Storm upset
then-No. 4-ranked Duke and
No. 1 Villanova in the span
of four days.
The Red Storm appeared
Chris Mullin has waved farewell to St. John’s University
after four years as the men’s head basketball coach.
Photo courtesy of Red Storm Sports
to continue whatever
momentum those victories
had built in 2018-19, launching
back into the Top 25 with
a 12-0 and 14-1 start. They
beat ranked opponents like
Villanova and did the double
over Marquette. However,
things ended abruptly with
early exits from the Big East
and NCAA Tournaments.
Mullin remained steadfast
with regard to the
program’s achievements
during his reign.
“I am proud of our
accomplishments,” he
said. “NCAA Tournament
Selection Sunday will be
a lifetime memory. I am
forever grateful to St. John’s
for giving me the opportunity
to hear Carnesecca Arena
and Madison Square Garden
roar again for college
basketball and especially for
our players.“
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