Statement
QUEENS, N.Y. (April 9, 2019) – St. John’s Director of Athletics Mike Cragg announced Tuesday that Chris Mullin has stepped down from his position as head coach after four seasons leading the St. John’s men’s basketball program. A national search for his successor begins today.
“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 was introduced as the 20th head men’s basketball coach in program history on April 1, 2015. Under his leadership, St. John’s improved its win total in each of his last three seasons at the helm in Queens. In 2018-19, St. John’s went 21-13 and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, making an appearance in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. It was the 86th winning season in program history, as the team’s 21 victories matched the most for the program in nearly two decades.
Since inheriting a team in his first year that had lost 96 percent of its scoring from the season prior to his arrival, Mullin orchestrated a turnaround during his time at his alma mater. The Johnnies boasted a six-win improvement in 2016-17, including seven BIG EAST victories in a league that sent seven squads to the NCAA Tournament.
After producing an 11-2 record during non-conference play in 2017-18, which featured one of the most impressive wins in the recent history of the program over No. 4 Duke at Madison Square Garden, Mullin guided the Red Storm to its first victory over the nation’s top ranked team in more than three decades, knocking off No. 1 Villanova in Philadelphia.
In 2018-19, St. John’s went 12-1 (.923) in non-conference play, marking the program’s best out-of-conference record since going 12-0 in 1982-83. The Red Storm won eight conference games, with three of those wins coming against the BIG EAST’s top pair of Villanova and Marquette. St. John’s earned a national ranking for the first time in more than four years, as the Johnnies broke into the Associated Press Poll at no. 24 and the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll at no. 23 on Jan. 7. For the third-straight year, St. John’s also advanced in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Mullin mentored two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection Shamorie Ponds, the fifth leading scorer in program history with 1,870 career points in three seasons at the University. In addition, Justin Simon developed into one of the elite defenders in the nation and became just the third player in program history to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Three St. John’s players were also named to the BIG EAST’s All-Freshman Team during Mullin’s tenure in Queens.
One of the most storied programs in collegiate basketball, St. John’s ranks ninth all-time in NCAA Division I with 1,854 victories. The school’s .643 winning percentage is the 16th highest in NCAA history and the Red Storm’s 29 NCAA Tournament appearances place among the top-25. St. John’s has made 28 appearances in the NIT and has won five championships. Helms Foundation national champions following the 1910-11 season, St. John’s appeared in NCAA Final Fours in 1952 and 1985. The program boasts 11 consensus All-Americans, 60 NBA Draft picks and 51 players who have scored 1,000 career points or more.
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QUEENS, N.Y. (April 9, 2019) – St. John’s Director of Athletics Mike Cragg announced Tuesday that Chris Mullin has stepped down from his position as head coach after four seasons leading the St. John’s men’s basketball program. A national search for his successor begins today.
“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 was introduced as the 20th head men’s basketball coach in program history on April 1, 2015. Under his leadership, St. John’s improved its win total in each of his last three seasons at the helm in Queens. In 2018-19, St. John’s went 21-13 and earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, making an appearance in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. It was the 86th winning season in program history, as the team’s 21 victories matched the most for the program in nearly two decades.
Since inheriting a team in his first year that had lost 96 percent of its scoring from the season prior to his arrival, Mullin orchestrated a turnaround during his time at his alma mater. The Johnnies boasted a six-win improvement in 2016-17, including seven BIG EAST victories in a league that sent seven squads to the NCAA Tournament.
After producing an 11-2 record during non-conference play in 2017-18, which featured one of the most impressive wins in the recent history of the program over No. 4 Duke at Madison Square Garden, Mullin guided the Red Storm to its first victory over the nation’s top ranked team in more than three decades, knocking off No. 1 Villanova in Philadelphia.
In 2018-19, St. John’s went 12-1 (.923) in non-conference play, marking the program’s best out-of-conference record since going 12-0 in 1982-83. The Red Storm won eight conference games, with three of those wins coming against the BIG EAST’s top pair of Villanova and Marquette. St. John’s earned a national ranking for the first time in more than four years, as the Johnnies broke into the Associated Press Poll at no. 24 and the USA Today Sports Coaches Poll at no. 23 on Jan. 7. For the third-straight year, St. John’s also advanced in the BIG EAST Tournament.
Mullin mentored two-time First Team All-BIG EAST selection Shamorie Ponds, the fifth leading scorer in program history with 1,870 career points in three seasons at the University. In addition, Justin Simon developed into one of the elite defenders in the nation and became just the third player in program history to be named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year. Three St. John’s players were also named to the BIG EAST’s All-Freshman Team during Mullin’s tenure in Queens.
One of the most storied programs in collegiate basketball, St. John’s ranks ninth all-time in NCAA Division I with 1,854 victories. The school’s .643 winning percentage is the 16th highest in NCAA history and the Red Storm’s 29 NCAA Tournament appearances place among the top-25. St. John’s has made 28 appearances in the NIT and has won five championships. Helms Foundation national champions following the 1910-11 season, St. John’s appeared in NCAA Final Fours in 1952 and 1985. The program boasts 11 consensus All-Americans, 60 NBA Draft picks and 51 players who have scored 1,000 career points or more.
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