St. John's University Athletics
Men's Basketball
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.
In just two seasons with St. John’s, Masiello has played a crucial role in returning the Red Storm to positions of prominence in the BIG EAST and on the national stage. The Johnnies have gone 51-18 with Masiello on staff, including a 31-5 campaign in 2024-25. In addition to posting the program’s first 30-win season since 1986, the Red Storm matched a BIG EAST record with 18 league wins and claimed their first outright regular season title since 1985. The Johnnies then rolled through the BIG EAST Tournament, capturing their first postseason conference crown since 2000. The Red Storm earned a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time in a quarter century.
In addition to his longtime mentor Rick Pitino winning BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors, Masiello saw two other Johnnies claim major conference awards in 2025, as RJ Luis Jr. was named BIG EAST Player of the Year and Zuby Ejiofor took home Most Improved Player accolades. Luis, who recently signed a contract with the Boston Celtics, was a consensus Second Team All-American.
As a follow-up to the Red Storm’s historic season, Masiello helped recruit the nation’s top transfer class this past summer.
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.
Before arriving in Queens, the White Plains, N.Y., native served on Pitino’s staff at Iona University in 2022-23, 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.
Before going to Louisville, Masiello had 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.
Masiello is married to his, Andrea. He is the proud father of a daughter, Piper.
In just two seasons with St. John’s, Masiello has played a crucial role in returning the Red Storm to positions of prominence in the BIG EAST and on the national stage. The Johnnies have gone 51-18 with Masiello on staff, including a 31-5 campaign in 2024-25. In addition to posting the program’s first 30-win season since 1986, the Red Storm matched a BIG EAST record with 18 league wins and claimed their first outright regular season title since 1985. The Johnnies then rolled through the BIG EAST Tournament, capturing their first postseason conference crown since 2000. The Red Storm earned a no. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Round of 32 for the first time in a quarter century.
In addition to his longtime mentor Rick Pitino winning BIG EAST Coach of the Year honors, Masiello saw two other Johnnies claim major conference awards in 2025, as RJ Luis Jr. was named BIG EAST Player of the Year and Zuby Ejiofor took home Most Improved Player accolades. Luis, who recently signed a contract with the Boston Celtics, was a consensus Second Team All-American.
As a follow-up to the Red Storm’s historic season, Masiello helped recruit the nation’s top transfer class this past summer.
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.
Before arriving in Queens, the White Plains, N.Y., native served on Pitino’s staff at Iona University in 2022-23, 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.
Before going to Louisville, Masiello had 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.
Masiello is married to his, Andrea. He is the proud father of a daughter, Piper.
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