Steve Masiello - Men's Basketball Coach - St. John's University Athletics

Steve Masiello

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
masiells@stjohns.edu
Phone:
5885

Steve Masiello was named associate head coach in April 2023, bringing more than two decades of Division I coaching experience to the St. John’s men’s basketball program.

Masiello spent 11 seasons as head coach at Manhattan College from 2011-22, leading the Jaspers to back-to-back Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championships and two trips to the NCAA Tournament.

The White Plains, N.Y., native most recently served on Pitino’s staff at Iona University, as he helped lead the Gaels to the 2023 MAAC regular season and tournament championships and earn a No. 13 seed in the Big Dance.

A former assistant coach at Louisville, Masiello spent six seasons under Pitino, helping the Cardinals to a 148-61 (.708) overall record, six-straight 20-win seasons and four NCAA Tournament appearances. The Cardinals advanced to the Elite Eight twice in 2008 and 2009. Masiello played a vital role in building Louisville’s 2009 BIG EAST Championship team, which won 31 games including a program record 16 in league play and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

As head coach at Manhattan, Masiello led the Jaspers to 162 wins, the third-most in program history. He set a school record with 11 MAAC Tournament victories and made three-straight trips to the conference’s tournament final, winning it all in 2014 and 2015.

Masiello mentored 16 All-MAAC performers, seven MAAC Major Award winners, four MAAC All-Rookie Team selections, 17 MAAC All-Academic performers and seven 1,000-point scorers. He twice garnered Coach of the Year honors presented by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA).

In his first season at Manhattan, the Jaspers enjoyed the biggest turnaround in Division I, posting 21 victories in 2011-12, a 15-win improvement from the previous season. The following year, Masiello guided Manhattan to the MAAC championship game for the first time in nine seasons. In 2013-14, the Jaspers matched a program record with 25 wins and earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Manhattan made its second-straight run to the MAAC title in 2014-15. During its back-to-back championship seasons, Masiello posted a 44-22 (.667) overall record, including a 28-12 (.700) league mark.

Prior to returning to Riverdale as the program’s head coach, Masiello served as an assistant coach at Manhattan from 2001-2005. He helped lead the Jaspers to three postseason appearances in four years, earning a bid to the 2002 NIT before capturing a pair of MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. Masiello helped guide Manhattan to one of the finest wins in program history when the Jaspers upset Florida in the First Round of the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Overall, the Jaspers posted an 83-36 (.697) record during his time as an assistant.

Prior to Manhattan, Masiello served as the administrative assistant at Tulane from 2000-01.

A four-year member of the Kentucky men’s basketball team, Masiello played under head coaches Pitino (1996-97) and Tubby Smith (1997-2000). During his playing career, Kentucky made two trips to the Final Four in 1997 and 1998, advancing to the National Championship game both times and winning the title in 1998. Masiello was named the Wildcats’ co-captain his senior year.

A local product, Masiello attended Archbishop Stepinac High School before completing his final two years at the Harvey School in Katonah, N.Y., where he helped the basketball program to a New England Prep School Athletic Association Championship.