Tim Cluess, who missed the entire 2019-20 season with an undisclosed illness, said he will serve the program in an advisory role to focus on making a full recovery.
Although Cluess' advisory role remains undefined and the college will have to hire his replacement, he hopes to benefit the coaching staff.
"I look forward to my new role and assisting the College in every way I can going forward," Cluess said. "On behalf of myself and my family, I want to thank Gael Nation, including every student-athlete I had to honor to coach, for their ever-present vocal support. I am proud of what we've accomplished together and look forward to supporting the program in my new advisory role."
Cluess' teams went 199-106 (.652) during his nine seasons at the helm, which is both the highest win total and highest winning percentage among the 23 Division I schools in the metropolitan area and second to Syracuse among the 22 Division I schools in the state.
The Gaels won 20 or more games in eight of Cluess' nine seasons and reached the postseason in all nine. They won five MAAC tournament titles, including an unprecedented four straight from 2016-19. Iona was one of only 13 out of 351 Division I schools to participate in the last four NCAA tournaments. Gonzaga was the only other team not from a major conference in the group. Additionally, Iona won four regular-season titles during Cluess' tenure. The 61-year old has won the most tournament titles and most tournament games in MAAC history and ranks second on the league's regular-season wins list.
I would be very disappointed if Rick Pitino were the coach for Iona. That is a person who has been surrounded by corruption, and individuals like him are bad for college sports. He was fired from one of the most legendary college basketball programs in history and frankly should not be back in college basketball because of the decisions he willingly made.
It appears that Tim Cluess, in all respects, appears to be both a skilled basketball coach and a decent human being, and was a good representative for Iona and the MAAC. What a lousy break for him and Iona. I hope for the best for him.
I have to agree Pitino is not good for college basketball. Remember at one time after Jim Pastos was let go at Siena, Pitinos name was thrown around as a possible candidate for the head coaching position. Siena was smart enough to hire Jamion Christensen and name his assistant Carm Maccerello (sp?). Carm as HC is doing good things in Albany these days. I hope Iona is smart enough to see that and focus on a coach with integrity. I know Grasso was well liked when at Iona and was credited with being an aggressive recruiter responsible for brining in the talent for Cluess championship runs.
I have to agree Pitino is not good for college basketball. Remember at one time after Jim Pastos was let go at Siena, Pitinos name was thrown around as a possible candidate for the head coaching position. Siena was smart enough to hire Jamion Christensen and name his assistant Carm Maccerello (sp?). Carm as HC is doing good things in Albany these days. I hope Iona is smart enough to see that and focus on a coach with integrity. I know Grasso was well liked when at Iona and was credited with being an aggressive recruiter responsible for brining in the talent for Cluess championship runs.
Bryant's roster is chock full of JUCO's, so Grasso's recruiting strategy would certainly seem to fit well with Iona's propensity to bring in those types of players.
Tim Cluess steps down at Iona; Rick Pitino, Jared Grasso among top contenders
Tim Cluess has stepped down at Iona after 10 seasons, and Rick Pitino and Jared Grasso are among the leading cding contenders, sources said.
Pitino, the former Louisville and Kentucky coach, has the backing of some influential boosters who reached out to him earlier this season as he continues to coach professionally in Greece, sources said.A Naismith Hall of Famer, Pitino, 67, is the only coach to lead two college programs to an NCAA championship. He also comes with the baggage of multiple scandals at Louisville occurring on his watch, although he has long maintained he knew nothing about the one reportedly run by former staffer Andre McGee involving prostitutes and strippers in the Louisville dorms, or the Adidas scheme to pay Brian Bowen $100,000 to commit to Louisville.
Grasso, 39, is the head coach at Bryant College and Cluess’ former top lieutenant at Iona. He has gone 23-37 in two seasons at Bryant, and went from 3 to 15 wins in 2 years after taking over the worst program in the country.
Another name potentially in the mix is current Saint Peter’s head coach and former Iona assistant Shaheen Holloway, recently named the MAAC Coach of the Year. Holloway could also be a candidate at Fordham should they make a coaching change, sources said. Still, he faces a 20-month show case in the Taurean Thompson tampering case......
2019-2020 INCOME NOTES The university’s tax returns, which cover compensation for 2017 calendar year, stated that more than half of Cluess’ total — $568,250 — was bonus pay. The returns say he received a “contractual stay bonus,” but did not provide the amount of that bonus. Iona, coach Tim Cluess -- who has presided over four straight MAAC Tournament titles -- is near the top of the conference's coaches in salary. Cluess has a base salary of $550,432, with $18,437 in other compensation.
Post by ctghostman on Mar 14, 2020 10:48:15 GMT -5
News media is looking for something to cover - Pitino is newsworthy especially in a lack of sports time - Great coach-lousy person - Iona had great for both in Cluess.
Rick Pitino’s college basketball return could come at Iona
Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, 67, who has coached in Greece after multiple scandals led to his firing from Louisville in 2017, is a leading target for the position, according to sources. Though Iona can’t provide the salary or spotlight he enjoyed throughout his legendary career, the New York native is believed to “want back [into college basketball] pretty bad” and has close ties to multiple influential voices at Iona, including top booster and donor Robert LaPenta, Iona '67 who formerly partnered with Pitino in horse racing ownership. Bryant’s 39-year-old coach Jared Grasso, a lieutenant of Cluess’ from 2010-18, is also considered a top candidate....
Rick Pitino’s college basketball return could come at Iona
Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, 67, who has coached in Greece after multiple scandals led to his firing from Louisville in 2017, is a leading target for the position, according to sources. Though Iona can’t provide the salary or spotlight he enjoyed throughout his legendary career, the New York native is believed to “want back [into college basketball] pretty bad” and has close ties to multiple influential voices at Iona, including top booster and donor Robert LaPenta, Iona '67 who formerly partnered with Pitino in horse racing ownership. Bryant’s 39-year-old coach Jared Grasso, a lieutenant of Cluess’ from 2010-18, is also considered a top candidate....
This looks like a done deal. When it looked the conference would be getting a break, Iona will be that much tougher for at least a few years until he can parlay it to a bigger job.
