Former Hartford head coach John Gallagher has been hired as the new head coach at Manhattan, the MAAC school announced on Wednesday. The Jaspers were led this past season in the interim by RaShawn Stores, who went 10-10 in conference play for the most MAAC wins in a season since 2015.
“John brings more than two decades of college coaching experience to Manhattan and has success and experience in leading a team to the NCAA Tournament,” AD Marianne Reilly said in a statement. “He has a track record of excellent recruiting, developing student-athletes and providing a world-class student-athlete experience. John’s values align with ours and I am confident that he will lead our cherished men’s basketball program to unprecedented heights. On behalf of the entire Manhattan College community, we welcome John and his children, Kenna, Alanna, Jack and Mary Kate to our family.”
Stores was expected to a favorite for the job, but it ultimately goes to Gallagher, who went 169-207 over twelve seasons at Hartford and led the program to their one and only D-I NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021. He resigned just before the 2022-23 season due to the school’s drop in support for athletic programs ahead of its drop this summer to Division III.
“We will recruit tremendous young men at Manhattan who will succeed in the classroom and on the court,” Gallagher said. “The Manhattan community will be proud to have our student-athletes who will represent the school and the greatest city in the world with pride. With incredible alignment, there is nothing that we cannot achieve together. My family and I cannot wait to join the Manhattan College community and Go Jaspers!”
Something to watch over the coming weeks will be the transfer portal, as several Manhattan players have already entered while others have been openly critical on social media about the school not hiring Stores. Gallagher may be in for an even bigger rebuild than anticipated this offseason.
Manhattan parted ways with former head coach Steve Masiello in October after eleven seasons, timing that was confounding at the time and even more so now. Masiello went to MAAC rival Iona, joining the staff of his former mentor Rick Pitino and helping lead the Gaels to another league title and NCAA bid. He is expected to follow Pitino across town to St. John’s.
The Jaspers last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2015, going to the Big Dance twice in Masiello’s first four seasons at the helm, and last won the MAAC in 2003.
credit to Manhattan Athletics for the image
