The Eternal "Who's the Worst SJU Coach" Debate

Some of us, including me, felt that Mark Jackson should have been the choice at one point or another. Why didn’t it ever happen?
He only wanted to coach NBA, by all accounts.

If he wasn't going to coach NBA, he was content to broadcast NBA. Of course, now he's doing neither.
 
. . . aside from here, because we definitely had a few posters questioning whether he had lost his fastball. :LOL:

I dunno. I have had concerns about whether modern players would play for him and last year I felt he stubbornly refused to adapt to the roster he had. But he did return the guys he wanted to return, landed enough of the guys he wanted to land, and he has made a major adjustment this year since this is a VERY un-Pitino-like team and he has obviously been willing to coach what he has instead of pounding square pegs into round holes like last year.

I don't think that translates into "lost his fastball" or is unreasonable given his age and that he was out of high-major coaching for the better part of a decade. And my concerns have been diminished for the reasons outlined above. But being a St John's fan I always have anxiety and thus I need to see what happens next year. Which might be unreasonable, it is what it is. If you root for this team then you know where I'm coming from.
 
The way I judge this is seeing where the program was when they were hired vs. how they left it. That's why I think Jarvis and Mahoney have to be the first two guys on the list.
The implosion of the program under Jarvis was mind boggling. He inherits outstanding talent, makes elite eight and a short time later, we are in a sea of mediocrity. His arrogance and huge ego was his demise. He gets a BE job after some success at GW and then thinks he is John Wooden as he flirts w the Washington NBA job. Mahoney, as ill prepared and unqualified he was for the SJ job, at least cared about the program and appreciated its tradition. Jarvis did not give a rat’s ass about that.
 
The way I judge this is seeing where the program was when they were hired vs. how they left it. That's why I think Jarvis and Mahoney have to be the first two guys on the list.
Two coaches who Ironically coached a couple of the most enjoyable post Louie teams.
 
He only wanted to coach NBA, by all accounts.

If he wasn't going to coach NBA, he was content to broadcast NBA. Of course, now he's doing neither.
According to commentary during a basketball event in September 2023, Mark said he reached out about the job when Anderson was let go, but when he learned that SJU was in negotiations with CRP, he said he would hire Rick over himself.

Jackson and Pitino have a great long-standing relationship by their own accounts.
 
The implosion of the program under Jarvis was mind boggling. He inherits outstanding talent, makes elite eight and a short time later, we are in a sea of mediocrity. His arrogance and huge ego was his demise. He gets a BE job after some success at GW and then thinks he is John Wooden as he flirts w the Washington NBA job. Mahoney, as ill prepared and unqualified he was for the SJ job, at least cared about the program and appreciated its tradition. Jarvis did not give a rat’s ass about that.
Yes, but he did author a compelling book.
 
Jarvis should have listened to Deuce more. Except I don't think that Deuce was allowed to talk except on the postgame.
 
Mahoney and Norm are neck and neck. At least Jarvis could coach talent his issue was he could not be bothered recruiting
 
Mullin sat on the scorers table so long at least we know he never had hemorrhoids

He should have been one of our best coaches ever with his basketball mind. He wasn’t cut out for coaching and was lazy recruiting and coaching. When you see Chris F’ing Mullin don’t tell me a 24 year old kid is more suitable to be running huddles. And he absolutely didn’t show up on some recruiting visits: that’s 100%
 
Last edited:
Since Lou with the criteria being NCAA.
1. Jarvis
2. Lavin
3. Fran
4. * Pitino- if wins game in tourney moves up to 2
5. Mahoney
6. Mullin
7. Anderson
8. Norm
 
Even if Rick has lost something off his fastball he has more than made up for it by adding a knuckle curve.
That’s another thing. Look at 72 year old Pitino. Look at him ( COACHING ) in huddles and go back and watch Mullin either on the scorers table or even better outside the huddle looking over our kids shoulders to see the play being drawn up by a kid

That’s F’ing lazy. You want a job ? You own every aspect of the job. Yeah you delegate but you own it !

That being said I’d cheer him at a game for what he was as a player
 
Last edited:
That’s another thing. Look at 72 year old Pitino. Look at him ( COACHING ) in huddles and go back and watch Mullin either on the scorers table or even better outside the huddle looking over our kids shoulders to see the play being drawn up by a kid

That’s F’ing lazy. You want a job ? You own every aspect of the job. Yeah you delegate but you own it !
Just in general, these two years have made the last 30 years of St. John's basketball look even more pathetic than I initially thought. Between the in-game coaching, skill development of players between years, talent level, scholarship composition/planning, interviews, marketing, etc.
 
Just in general, these two years have made the last 30 years of St. John's basketball look even more pathetic than I initially thought. Between the in-game coaching, skill development of players between years, talent level, scholarship composition/planning, interviews, marketing, etc.
Great points and agree
 
The implosion of the program under Jarvis was mind boggling. He inherits outstanding talent, makes elite eight and a short time later, we are in a sea of mediocrity. His arrogance and huge ego was his demise. He gets a BE job after some success at GW and then thinks he is John Wooden as he flirts w the Washington NBA job. Mahoney, as ill prepared and unqualified he was for the SJ job, at least cared about the program and appreciated its tradition. Jarvis did not give a rat’s ass about that.
The fact that the Mahoney’s still come to just about every game says it all
 
Back
Top