Steve Masiello signed a five year contract upon his hire in 2011, but his future at Manhattan is more secure.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported that Masiello and the school had hammered out a multi-year extension. The school, shortly thereafter, confirmed that the 38 year-old head coach has been extended by the school through the 2019-20 season.
“I am very happy about the opportunity to continue to lead the men’s basketball team at Manhattan College,” Masiello said in a statement. “I am grateful for the commitment shown by the administration to me and to the program, and I am excited to build on our success in the coming years.”
Masiello’s teams have won the last two MAAC tournament championships and he has compiled a record of 91-70 in five seasons. Upon his hire after a stint as an assistant Louisville, the coach led a turnaround from a six-win team under Barry Rohrssen to their first 20-win season since 2006.
However, after their first MAAC championship in 2013 it appeared that the relationship between the school and its star coach was fractured when he pursued the South Florida job. It was later discovered in the process of being hired by the Bulls that Masiello had not completed his degree from the University of Kentucky. Talks were broken off and Masiello was put on leave so he could complete his pursued degree over the summer, which he was then reinstated following completing his diploma.
Last season Masiello took the course of redemption and led the Jaspers to another MAAC championship. But as early as the preseason there was talk of a possible split between the two. Talk had increased of an unhappy marriage between the two parties throughout what became a tumultuous season. All of that is now put to bed thanks to a four-year extension.
“We are delighted to have a coach of Steve’s caliber on board for four more years,” Interim Director of Athletics Tom O’Connor said in a statement. “He is an excellent teacher of basketball and we look forward to continued success in the future.”
The Jaspers will face Marist tonight in the MAAC tournament’s first round.
Ryan Restivo wrote the America East conference preview for the 2015-16 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. He covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the America East conference among others for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo or contact Ryan at rrestivo[at]nycbuckets.com.
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