Bob Walsh - Men's Basketball Coach - St. John's University Athletics

Bob Walsh

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
walshr1@stjohns.edu
Phone:
7687

Bob Walsh, a respected coaching veteran with more than three decades of experience on the bench, joined the Red Storm in April 2023 as an assistant coach.

In just two short years, Walsh has helped the Red Storm rebound to heights the program had not reached in decades. After going 20-13 and narrowly missing out on an NCAA Tournament bid in Walsh’s first year on staff, the Johnnies enjoyed their best season in 40 years in 2024-25. The Red Storm finished 31-5, matching a program record for victories in a single season and eclipsing the 30-win mark for just the third time in program history. The Johnnies went 18-2 in league play, matching the conference’s single-season wins record and securing their first outright BIG EAST Regular Season Championship since 1985. The Red Storm then rolled through the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden, claiming their first conference postseason crown since 2000. St. John’s earned a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Second Round for the first time in 25 years.

For his team’s efforts, Rick Pitino was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year and won three separate national coach of the year awards. Walsh and the staff saw two Johnnies earn major awards from the league, as RJ Luis Jr. earned BIG EAST Player of the Year honors and Zuby Ejiofor was tabbed as the conference’s most improved player. Luis, who recently signed a contract with the Boston Celtics, became the program’s first consensus Second Team All-American since Malik Sealy in 1992.

Walsh came to Queens following one season at Iona, where he helped lead the Gaels to a 27-8 record, the MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships and a no. 13 seed in NCAA Tournament.

Prior to his second stint with the Gaels, Walsh served on Ed Cooley’s staff at Providence from 2019-22 as Associate Director of Player Development, Scouting and Recruiting Coordination. It marked his second tenure with the Friars, having previously served as an assistant coach with the program from 1998-2005.

Walsh’s wealth of coaching experience includes 13 years as an NCAA head coach. Prior to returning to Providence, Walsh was the head coach at the University of Maine from 2014-18 after spending nine seasons at Division III Rhode Island College from 2005-14. In his combined 13 seasons as head coach, Walsh boasted a 228-163 record (.583), including a 137-79 mark (.634) in conference play. He guided RIC to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, including three Sweet 16 berths and one Elite Eight.

Walsh began his career as a graduate assistant at Iona in 1994. After three seasons in New Rochelle, he joined the staff at the University of San Diego as an assistant coach in 1997-98. Walsh returned to the East Coast to join former Iona head coach Tim Welsh at Providence in 1998. As an assistant with the Friars, he helped guide the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and 2004 and mentored the program’s all-time leading scorer, Ryan Gomes.

An innovator in leadership and development off the court, Walsh is the founder of the Dynamic Leadership Academy for young leaders and coaches. Walsh has also been the host of the Dynamic Leadership Podcast on AthleticDirectorU.com.

A 1994 graduate of Hamilton College, Walsh earned a degree in sociology, and he also holds a master's degree from Iona in mass communication and public relations.