Previously: Steve Lavin: the solution or the question?
St. John's hired former UCLA head coach Steve Lavin. Below, find the press, video, and audio links.
There is a mix of excitement over a supposedly big name, an on-air personality, and a guy who went to numerous NCAA Tournaments with the storied UCLA program. And in there - especially from Bruins Nation and the New York Times - are the stories that have dogged Steve Lavin since his ouster from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Lavin is a high-profile guy, and the hire might seem strange, with him regarded as a west coaster. But he has friends in the business and genuinely wants to reach out to experienced staff to help him with the things he doesn't do as well... it's been a while since his flameout, and perhaps there's a very good coach in there, the coach who was once known a little bit for defense when he came to UCLA, the coach who worked under Purdue great Gene Keady, the coach who managed to only have one losing season - his last - despite great talent.
I ain't saying nothing, but Paul Hewitt's 10 seasons include 3 with overall losing records. Despite Lavin's coaching in the tough Pac-10 - and his many blowout losses - he only has one overall losing season. It's a risk, which I will go into in the next post. But after 7 seasons and only two of them over .500, another team's garbage is this team's gain.
AP/ Yahoo: Lavin Agrees to become coach at St. John’s
Bruins Nation: St. Johns Commits Suicide (Already Prescheduled A Home & Home w UCLA Next Season)
Johnny Jungle: Welcome to New York City
MSG/ Game On: On the Hardwood: Hiring Lavin Home Run For St. John's; Staff Is Next
NBC NY: Steve Lavin is Your New St. John’s Head Coach
NY Daily News: St. John’s gives former UCLA coach Steve Lavin six-year deal to take over Red Storm hoops program
NY Daily News: With new coaching hires, St. John's, Seton Hall and Fordham hoping to resurrect basketball programs
NY Daily News: Steve Lavin may be new coach of St. John's, but wife Mary Ann Jarou set to take city by Storm
NY Post: St. John's gives Lavin six-year deal
NY Post: Garden can be coach's best asset
NY Times: Welcome to Lavin’s World. Enjoy the Ride
NY Times: St. John’s Set to Hire Lavin as Its Coach
NY Times: On Coaching Go-Round, It’s Hop On, and Hold On
ESPN: Lavin succeeds Roberts at St. John's
Red Storm Sports: Steve Lavin Named St. John’s 19th Head Men’s Basketball Coach
San Jose Mercury News: Steve Lavin to St. John’s: Well, he won’t be boring
SNY: Lavin to become next coach of St. John’s
SI Live: Expectations are clear for Lavin: Win now
Audio:
WFAN 660 - Steve Lavin on the Mike Francessa Show - Listen
1050 ESPN Radio - Steve Lavin on the Michael Kay Show - Listen
SNY - Lavin appearance - Watch