during quarterfinal play in the NCAA college Colonial Athletic Association college basketball tournament in Richmond, Va., Saturday, March 5, 2011. (AP Photo/Scott K. Brown)
Hofstra University announced on Thursday that men’s basketball head coach Mo Cassara has signed a new 5-year contract through the 2015-2016 season.
The first-year coach replaced Tim Welsh who was hired to take over for Tom Pecora who left for Fordham last year. Welsh, however, resigned a month after accepting the job because of a DWI arrest. That’s when Cassara–who was going to be an assistant coach for Welsh–was named head coach.
“Mo did an outstanding job this season in leading us to a second place finish in arguably the greatest year in the Colonial Athletic Association’s history,” said Hofstra’s Director of Athletics Jack Hayes in a statement. “He has proven his abilities as a coach and as a recruiter, and we’re very excited about the program’s future under his leadership.”
Cassara led a young and inexperienced team to a 21-12 record, and the Pride were 14-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. With star point guard Charles Jenkins leading the team, the Pride tied for second in the CAA, finishing two games ahead of Virgina Commonwealth University–one of the current Final Four teams.
Hofstra reached the semifinals of the CAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
“Mo was a big part of the team’s success on the court and worked well with our student-athletes. Off the court, he engaged the student body and our alumni and generated excitement for the program with all of our students and fans,” said Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz in a statement. “He is a great ambassador for the Pride athletic program, and we’re looking forward to many more years of success with Mo as our head coach.”
Cassara was an assistant coach for Boston College before taking the job at Hofstra.
-With Associated Press
