QUEENS, N.Y. (Sept. 14, 2012) ? 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.
"Coach
Hines and Coach Chiles are clearly deserving of this promotion," said
Lavin. "From the outset of my tenure at St. John's, these two talented
coaches have been tirelessly working alongside me, and their
contributions have been vital to our efforts as we diligently work
toward putting the Johnnies in position to be a consistent winner."
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 has 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 named new assistant coach
"Coach
Hines and Coach Chiles are clearly deserving of this promotion," said
Lavin. "From the outset of my tenure at St. John's, these two talented
coaches have been tirelessly working alongside me, and their
contributions have been vital to our efforts as we diligently work
toward putting the Johnnies in position to be a consistent winner."
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 has 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 named new assistant coach