POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (4/26/04) - Matt Brady, an assistant at Saint Joseph's for the past 11 years, has been named the head men's basketball coach at Marist College, it was announced by Director of Athletics Tim Murray at a press conference in the Cabaret of the Student Center on the Poughkeepsie campus. Brady becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the program.
"I am happy to welcome Matt to the Marist College family," said Murray. "I am excited to have a coach of his talent and background join our staff and I look forward to Matt's leadership as we continue to build our basketball tradition."
Brady comes to Marist after an 11-year stint as an assistant coach at Saint Joseph's. He has made a mark while on the Hawks bench, including four NCAA Tournament appearances, three NIT berths, four Big 5 Championships and three Atlantic 10 Titles. This past season, Brady aided the Hawks in putting together one of the most successful campaigns in program history. Saint Joseph's went 27-0 during the regular season, posted a program record 30-2 overall record, earned a #1 national ranking, earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history and advanced to the Elite Eight.
"I am tremendously honored that Marist has selected me as the next head coach," Brady said. "I and my family are thrilled at being given this opportunity and I am looking forward to the challenge of trying to elevate Marist College basketball back to the top of the conference."
"Everyone associated with Saint Joseph's University is delighted that Matt has gotten his well-earned opportunity at Marist," said Hawk coach Phil Martelli. "There's no doubt in my mind that Matt will serve Marist as an exceptional head coach. He has proven himself as a recruiter and most importantly, as a teacher of the game of basketball."
Brady has recruited some of the Hawks top players in recent years, including the 2004 Consensus National Player of the Year, Jameer Nelson, a unanimous AP All-America First Team selection this season. The following year, Brady had a hand in helping the Hawks sign Washington, D.C. Metro Player of the Year, Delonte West, who earned AP Honorable Mention All-America this season.
"First and foremost Matt Brady will maintain the integrity of the Marist Men's Basketball program," said college president Dennis J. Murray. "Matt impresses me with his abilities as a leader, coach, teacher, and mentor and we all welcome him to the Marist Family. As a community we expect great things from him and the program."
Renowned as a teacher of the art of shooting, Brady has received credit for the successful shooting at Saint Joseph's. This past season, the Hawks set a school record, making 313 three-pointers, surpassing the mark that the Brady tutored shooters set in 1996-97, when the Hawks knocked down 276 three-pointers. Under his tutelage Saint Joseph's set single-game records in three-pointers made, capped by a 20-made effort against Temple. The Hawks improved their field goal shooting from last season to this one, shooting 47.5 percent during the 2003-04 campaign, up from 44.3 percent a season ago. The Hawks improved from behind the arc as well, shooting 40.4 percent this season, as compared to 36.3 percent in 2002-03.
No stranger to Northeast basketball, Brady has served as an assistant coach for the past 17 seasons. He began his coaching career in 1987 as a member of Tom Penders' staff at the University of Rhode Island. He made his first NCAA appearance at URI, helping the Rams to a `Sweet Sixteen' berth in 1988. After two seasons with the Rams, Brady moved onto Wagner College, where he served as the top assistant to Tim Capstraw for four seasons, before accepting his first position at Saint Joseph's.
Brady was also a standout during his playing days, enjoying a successful four-year career at Siena College in Loudonville, NY. Over the course of his career as a Saint, Brady played in 114 games, making starts in 92 of those games. He graduated as the school's all-time leader in assists, with 593, and is currently second all-time in that category. Inducted into the Siena Hall of Fame in 1993, Brady averaged 9.68 points per game, while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor for his career.
Brady is a native of Haddon Heights, NJ, where he attended Paul VI High School in Haddon Township. A varsity basketball player at Paul VI, Brady was named to the 1980's South Jersey All-Decade Team.
Murray announced that Marist and Brady had agreed to a four-year contract, which runs through the 2007-08 season. No other terms or conditions of the contract were released.
