St. John's University Athletics
Men's Basketball
Macon, Van
Van Macon
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- maconv@stjohns.edu
- Phone:
- 6224
A Queens native with more than two decades of experience in the collegiate coaching ranks, assistant coach Van Macon will enter his fifth season at St. John's in 2023-24.
An assistant coach for his first two seasons in Queens, Macon returns to the role after spending two seasons as an associate head coach under former head coach Mike Anderson.
A veteran coach with deep roots in New York City, Macon has been instrumental in keeping several local talents home during his short time at St. John’s.
Macon helped land Our Saviour Lutheran alumni Posh Alexander and Dylan Addae-Wusu for the 2020-21 squad, the former of whom was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year simultaneously. The Brooklyn native became just the third player in BIG EAST history to win both awards simultaneously, joining Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson in that esteemed fraternity.
Shortly after arriving in Queens, Macon helped recruit and mentor Bishop Loughlin product Julian Champagnie, who was named to the 2020 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team before leading the league in scoring and finding a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team as a sophomore. Champagnie was again named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2021-22, becoming just the seventh player in program history to receive the honor twice.
In addition to his prowess on the recruiting trail, Macon has played a key role in the program in scouting and skill development, primarily working with the Red Storm’s post players.
Macon returned to Queens after three years on the staff of Travis Ford at Saint Louis. In 2018-19, Macon assumed the role of associate head coach and helped the Billikens capture the 2019 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and secure their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014. Saint Louis registered 23 wins that season, the program’s highest total since winning 27 games in 2013-2014.
Macon hit the ground running at Saint Louis in terms of recruiting. After joining the staff in April of 2016, Macon was integral in bringing a pair of four-star, ESPN Top 100 talents to campus from the class of 2017 in Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. He also helped land Michigan State tranfer Javon Bess, who averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Billikens in 2018-19. Macon also helped land a top 100 recruit for the class of 2018, securing a commitment from Carte’Are Gordon, a former member of USA Basketball’s U17 National Team.
Prior to his arrival at Saint Louis, Macon spent six seasons on the staff at Rutgers under a pair of head coaches in Mike Rice and Eddie Jordan.
Before his stint in Piscataway, Macon enjoyed nine highly successful years at Hofstra under the direction of Head Coach Tom Pecora, who promoted Macon to the role of associate head coach for his final three seasons on staff. The Pride went to three NITs and a CBI while compiling a 155-126 mark in Macon’s nine seasons. During Macon’s final six years on staff in Hempstead, the Pride tallied four 20-win campaigns and won 121 games. In 2005-06, Hofstra tied a then-school wins record with 26, including a pair of victories over Final Four-bound George Mason. The Pride, who lost in the CAA Championship Game that year, went on to top Nebraska and Saint Joseph’s in the NIT before falling in the quarterfinals to Old Dominion.
At Hofstra, Macon helped recruit three New York guards that scored more than 2,000 points in their collegiate careers: Loren Stokes, Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins. Jenkins is one of only three individuals to ever win the Haggerty Award three times and went on to play in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before signing on at Hofstra, Macon also undertook stints as an assistant coach Adelphi, Marist, Lafeyette and Farmingdale State.
Macon graduated in 1994 from Southampton College, a former branch of Long Island University. A star on the hardwood at Southampton, Macon began his collegiate player career at Nassau Community College, where he graduated in second place on the school’s all-time scoring list. He was inducted into Nassau’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Macon and his wife, Pam, have two sons, Eric and Mel.
An assistant coach for his first two seasons in Queens, Macon returns to the role after spending two seasons as an associate head coach under former head coach Mike Anderson.
A veteran coach with deep roots in New York City, Macon has been instrumental in keeping several local talents home during his short time at St. John’s.
Macon helped land Our Saviour Lutheran alumni Posh Alexander and Dylan Addae-Wusu for the 2020-21 squad, the former of whom was named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year simultaneously. The Brooklyn native became just the third player in BIG EAST history to win both awards simultaneously, joining Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson in that esteemed fraternity.
Shortly after arriving in Queens, Macon helped recruit and mentor Bishop Loughlin product Julian Champagnie, who was named to the 2020 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team before leading the league in scoring and finding a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team as a sophomore. Champagnie was again named to the All-BIG EAST First Team in 2021-22, becoming just the seventh player in program history to receive the honor twice.
In addition to his prowess on the recruiting trail, Macon has played a key role in the program in scouting and skill development, primarily working with the Red Storm’s post players.
Macon returned to Queens after three years on the staff of Travis Ford at Saint Louis. In 2018-19, Macon assumed the role of associate head coach and helped the Billikens capture the 2019 Atlantic 10 Tournament title and secure their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2014. Saint Louis registered 23 wins that season, the program’s highest total since winning 27 games in 2013-2014.
Macon hit the ground running at Saint Louis in terms of recruiting. After joining the staff in April of 2016, Macon was integral in bringing a pair of four-star, ESPN Top 100 talents to campus from the class of 2017 in Jordan Goodwin and Hasahn French. He also helped land Michigan State tranfer Javon Bess, who averaged 15.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for the Billikens in 2018-19. Macon also helped land a top 100 recruit for the class of 2018, securing a commitment from Carte’Are Gordon, a former member of USA Basketball’s U17 National Team.
Prior to his arrival at Saint Louis, Macon spent six seasons on the staff at Rutgers under a pair of head coaches in Mike Rice and Eddie Jordan.
Before his stint in Piscataway, Macon enjoyed nine highly successful years at Hofstra under the direction of Head Coach Tom Pecora, who promoted Macon to the role of associate head coach for his final three seasons on staff. The Pride went to three NITs and a CBI while compiling a 155-126 mark in Macon’s nine seasons. During Macon’s final six years on staff in Hempstead, the Pride tallied four 20-win campaigns and won 121 games. In 2005-06, Hofstra tied a then-school wins record with 26, including a pair of victories over Final Four-bound George Mason. The Pride, who lost in the CAA Championship Game that year, went on to top Nebraska and Saint Joseph’s in the NIT before falling in the quarterfinals to Old Dominion.
At Hofstra, Macon helped recruit three New York guards that scored more than 2,000 points in their collegiate careers: Loren Stokes, Antoine Agudio and Charles Jenkins. Jenkins is one of only three individuals to ever win the Haggerty Award three times and went on to play in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors and the Philadelphia 76ers.
Before signing on at Hofstra, Macon also undertook stints as an assistant coach Adelphi, Marist, Lafeyette and Farmingdale State.
Macon graduated in 1994 from Southampton College, a former branch of Long Island University. A star on the hardwood at Southampton, Macon began his collegiate player career at Nassau Community College, where he graduated in second place on the school’s all-time scoring list. He was inducted into Nassau’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.
Macon and his wife, Pam, have two sons, Eric and Mel.
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