As mentioned earlier this morning, Athletic Director Chris Monasch will be leaving St. John's. He will be resigning his post.
St. John's Director of Athletics Chris Monasch announced on Thursday he will resign from his position at the University effective June 30, 2015 to pursue new leadership opportunities. Monasch has overseen his alma mater's athletic program since 2005. St. John's will immediately begin a national search for his successor....
Monasch executed several new initiatives during his tenure, most notably facility enhancements, strategic partnerships and the expansion of multimedia platforms. Carnesecca Arena underwent a multi-phase renovation, updating the facility that houses most of the St. John's Athletic Department. Medical, Strength & Conditioning and Academic Services were modernized to ensure first rate support of Red Storm student athletes.
Monasch directed other major facility enhancements that included the new construction of The Courts at St. John's, as well as significant upgrades to Belson Stadium, the home of St. John's soccer, and Jack Kaiser Stadium, which was dedicated in 2007 to the St. John's Hall of Famer and serves as the home to the Red Storm's baseball team. DaSilva Memorial Track was also renovated and resurfaced in 2014.
St. John's forged new partnerships with IMG College, Under Armour and launched the St. John's Television Network (SJU-TV) in conjunction with ESPN3 under Monasch. He positioned the department at the forefront of digital media and prioritized social media as a key component of the communications strategy.
Mentioned earlier, St. John's may be looking at NBA GM Pete D`Alessandro for the Athletic Director position. D`Alessandro was hired by new head coach Chris Mullin at Golden State and with the Sacramento Kings.
Other names will surface in the hunt for a new Athletic Director.
St. John's hired Chris Mullin as head coach at the end of March. Mullin's hire, and the interest in an NBA GM, may mean that the program is looking to improve internally; some critics and longtime fans have chided the program for being too "mom and pop", too familiar, leaning often on supposedly outdated ways of doing business.
But will the NBA pedigree of the new coach and possible new GM mean that both will be eyeing interesting opportunities in the pro ranks while managing St. John's?
Will the recent changes elevate the men's basketball program, the best-known of the school's sports, to a level of national prominence? Will that change, in turn, raise the profile of the school?
An offseason full of change, hope, and questions.