St. John's University Athletics
Joe Tartamella Named Naismith National Coach of the Year Semifinalist
3/10/2023 8:35:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Tartamella was named the 2023 BIG EAST Coach of the Year last week
QUEENS, N.Y.— St. John's women's basketball Head Coach Joe Tartamella has been named a 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Semifinalist, the organization announced on Thursday.
The award is presented annually to the best men's and women's collegiate coach in the country.
After leading the Red Storm to a remarkable turnaround in 2022-23, the 11th year head coach is one of 10 coaches across the country to be chosen as a semifinalist. He joins the likes of past winners South Carolina's Dawn Staley and LSU's Kim Mulkey on the list.
Last week, Tartamella was named the 2023 BIG EAST Coach of the Year by the conference office. The award comes after leading St. John's to a 22-7 overall record and a 13-7 mark in BIG EAST play during the 2022-23 regular season.
After winning 20 combined games over the previous two seasons, Tartamella led the team to 22 regular season victories, the highest total of his career and best mark for the program since 2009-10.
The 13 conference victories matched the school's highest total since 2013-14. After being picked seventh in the conference's preseason poll, the Red Storm finished tied for fourth place in the league standings, marking the seventh time in 11 seasons Tartamella has led his teams to a top-four finish or better in league play.
Tartamella mentored a new-look roster that welcomed five newcomers, including three transfers that started nearly every game. Under the direction of Tartamella, Pittsburgh transfer and unanimous 2022-23 All-BIG EAST First Team selection Jayla Everett currently holds the highest scoring average of her five-year career. The shooting guard is currently averaging 15.8 points per game, the highest mark for a Red Storm player in their first-year with the team since Tawana Jackson in 1994-95.
The Red Storm got off to its best start in program history this season, winning its first 13 games and surpassing the previous record of 11-0 set by 2004-05 team. Another record was shattered on Jan. 25 during a 67-65 win over Butler, as St. John's won its 13 consecutive games inside the friendly confines of Carnesecca Arena. The Johnnies concluded the regular season with a 14-2 mark at their home arena.
In late February, Tartamella earned highest ranked win of his career at No. 4/5 UConn, 69-64. On a magical night in Hartford, the Red Storm rallied from an eight-point third quarter deficit to shock the 11-time National Champion Huskies at home. The Red Storm is one of three conference opponents to defeat UConn in the last 10 years.
In early December, the Johnnies picked up their first marquee victory over then-No. 13/14 Creighton, 66-62, on Dec. 4. St. John's owns two wins over top-15 teams for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
In the national landscape, the 11th-year head coach led the Johnnies to their first ranking in both national polls in seven years. On Dec. 19, 2022, St. John's checked in at No. 25 in the Associated Press (AP) poll. The following day, the Red Storm were named the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association National Team of the Week.
The Johnnies enjoyed three weeks ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2012. Overall, St. John's was ranked or receiving votes in one of the two national polls for nine-consecutive weeks from Dec. 5, 2022- Feb. 7, 2023.
St. John's awaits its postseason destination as it hopes to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history.
The award is presented annually to the best men's and women's collegiate coach in the country.
After leading the Red Storm to a remarkable turnaround in 2022-23, the 11th year head coach is one of 10 coaches across the country to be chosen as a semifinalist. He joins the likes of past winners South Carolina's Dawn Staley and LSU's Kim Mulkey on the list.
Last week, Tartamella was named the 2023 BIG EAST Coach of the Year by the conference office. The award comes after leading St. John's to a 22-7 overall record and a 13-7 mark in BIG EAST play during the 2022-23 regular season.
After winning 20 combined games over the previous two seasons, Tartamella led the team to 22 regular season victories, the highest total of his career and best mark for the program since 2009-10.
The 13 conference victories matched the school's highest total since 2013-14. After being picked seventh in the conference's preseason poll, the Red Storm finished tied for fourth place in the league standings, marking the seventh time in 11 seasons Tartamella has led his teams to a top-four finish or better in league play.
Tartamella mentored a new-look roster that welcomed five newcomers, including three transfers that started nearly every game. Under the direction of Tartamella, Pittsburgh transfer and unanimous 2022-23 All-BIG EAST First Team selection Jayla Everett currently holds the highest scoring average of her five-year career. The shooting guard is currently averaging 15.8 points per game, the highest mark for a Red Storm player in their first-year with the team since Tawana Jackson in 1994-95.
The Red Storm got off to its best start in program history this season, winning its first 13 games and surpassing the previous record of 11-0 set by 2004-05 team. Another record was shattered on Jan. 25 during a 67-65 win over Butler, as St. John's won its 13 consecutive games inside the friendly confines of Carnesecca Arena. The Johnnies concluded the regular season with a 14-2 mark at their home arena.
In late February, Tartamella earned highest ranked win of his career at No. 4/5 UConn, 69-64. On a magical night in Hartford, the Red Storm rallied from an eight-point third quarter deficit to shock the 11-time National Champion Huskies at home. The Red Storm is one of three conference opponents to defeat UConn in the last 10 years.
In early December, the Johnnies picked up their first marquee victory over then-No. 13/14 Creighton, 66-62, on Dec. 4. St. John's owns two wins over top-15 teams for the first time since the 2011-12 season.
In the national landscape, the 11th-year head coach led the Johnnies to their first ranking in both national polls in seven years. On Dec. 19, 2022, St. John's checked in at No. 25 in the Associated Press (AP) poll. The following day, the Red Storm were named the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association National Team of the Week.
The Johnnies enjoyed three weeks ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2012. Overall, St. John's was ranked or receiving votes in one of the two national polls for nine-consecutive weeks from Dec. 5, 2022- Feb. 7, 2023.
St. John's awaits its postseason destination as it hopes to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in program history.
Players Mentioned
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