NEW YORK -- Norm Roberts was fired Friday as the basketball coach of St. John's after six seasons -- only two of them with a winning record.
Athletic director Chris Monasch announced the dismissal two days after the Red Storm lost to Memphis in the first round of the NIT to complete a 17-16 season.
The Red Storm were 6-12 in the Big East this season -- 13th in the 16-team conference.
"Coach Roberts took over a very challenging situation and has advanced our program in many respects," Monasch said in a statement. "We appreciate the class and integrity he exhibited in his six years at St. John's."
Roberts was a longtime assistant to Bill Self at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas. He joined a St. John's team coming off a 6-21 season under Mike Jarvis and interim coach Kevin Clark.
This was the second coaching firing in the Big East in two days, following Bobby Gonzalez's ouster at Seton Hall on Wednesday.
Roberts was 81-101 at St. John's. Including four years at Division II Queens College, he has a 105-185 coaching record.
"My wife and I appreciate the great opportunity to have coached at St. John's. ... Having grown up in Queens, I never could have imagined being afforded the opportunity to coach at one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country," Roberts said in a statement. " I do believe the program is in a much stronger position than when I arrived."
The Red Storm will return all five starters and 94 percent of the scoring from last season's team.
:howdy: Bye Bye
Athletic director Chris Monasch announced the dismissal two days after the Red Storm lost to Memphis in the first round of the NIT to complete a 17-16 season.
The Red Storm were 6-12 in the Big East this season -- 13th in the 16-team conference.
"Coach Roberts took over a very challenging situation and has advanced our program in many respects," Monasch said in a statement. "We appreciate the class and integrity he exhibited in his six years at St. John's."
Roberts was a longtime assistant to Bill Self at Oral Roberts, Tulsa, Illinois and Kansas. He joined a St. John's team coming off a 6-21 season under Mike Jarvis and interim coach Kevin Clark.
This was the second coaching firing in the Big East in two days, following Bobby Gonzalez's ouster at Seton Hall on Wednesday.
Roberts was 81-101 at St. John's. Including four years at Division II Queens College, he has a 105-185 coaching record.
"My wife and I appreciate the great opportunity to have coached at St. John's. ... Having grown up in Queens, I never could have imagined being afforded the opportunity to coach at one of the most prestigious basketball programs in the country," Roberts said in a statement. " I do believe the program is in a much stronger position than when I arrived."
The Red Storm will return all five starters and 94 percent of the scoring from last season's team.
:howdy: Bye Bye
