St. John's University Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Joe Pellicane made his return to the St. John's women's basketball bench in June 2013. It is his second assistant coaching stint at St. John's, where he served top assistant from 2002-04.
Before returning to St. John's, Pellicane has spent nine years as the head coach of nearby Dowling College's women's basketball program, where he boasted a 169-95 (.640) record and led the Golden Lions to the Division II National Championship finals and two NCAA tournament berths.
Pellicane is Hall of Fame inductee at Dowling College and was a seven-time East Coast Conference (ECC) Coach of the Year award recipient. He was the head coach of seven nationally ranked teams, seven All-American players and boasts a over a 60-percent winning record (465-305) for his career. Pellicane's coaching career spans more than 33 years, and includes head coaching experience for both men's and women's basketball.
Over a 27-year head coaching career, Pellicane's accomplishments include 26 post-season appearances, four NCAA post-season appearances, four NJCAA post-season appearances, seven top 25 national rankings and 47 first and second team all-conference players.
In 2012-13, his ninth year as head coach at Dowling, Pellicane had one of his most successful seasons at the helm of the women's basketball program, leading the Golden Lions to a program-best 30-4 record, a Division II Championship Final and the second-straight East Coast Conference Regular Season and Tournament title. He was named Division II All-Met Coach of the Year, Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year and the Golden Lions received a No. 2 ranking in the WBCA National Poll and were No. 1 in defense according to the national NCAA statistical rankings. In 2011-12, Pellicane guided the Golden Lions to a 22-7 record and its second NCAA appearance and captured the inaugural ECC regular-season and tournament titles. The team was ranked No. 3 in the nation for team defense and second in country in opponent field goal percentage. In 2008-09, Pellicane's Golden Eagles earned a No. 2 national ranking for most improved team in the nation. He was also the 2008 ECC Coach of the Year. In his last four years at Dowling, Pellicane boasted three-straight ECC Rookie of the Year selections.
Prior to his most recent position as head coach of Dowling College (2006-2013, 2000-02), he was also the head women's basketball coach for Molloy College from 2005-06.
Pellicane was part of St. John's University's staff from 2002-04, where he was instrumental in helping former head coach Kim Barnes Arico rebuild the Red Storm to the BIG EAST contender it is today, As top assistant, he helped bring in a top 40 recruiting class that helped St. John's return to the NCAA Tournament in 2006, for the first time in 20 years.
Before moving over to the women's game, Pellicane spent 13 years on the sidelines as the former men's head coach at Dowling College from 1986-1999. During his tenure, he compiled a 205-161 overall record, averaging 17 wins per season. He guided the Golden Lions to two NCAA Tournaments in 1995 and 1998 as well as the Division II ECAC Championship in 1988. Pellicane was the 1998 NYCAC Men's Basketball Coach Of The Year.
Prior to his men's basketball coaching position at Dowling, Pellicane was an assistant men's basketball coach at Hofstra University from 1984-85, where he also worked as the academic advisor to the team.
He also served as head coach of the Farmingdale State Rams (1982-85), where he coached Farmingdale to three-straight national rankings at the junior college level, with two junior college All-Americans and led the Rams to the postseason national tournament in his first season.
Pellicane was also the head men's basketball coach for Suffolk West Community College in Brentwood, N.Y., from 1980-81.
In addition to his coaching experience, he was also the Assistant Athletic Director at Molloy College. Pellicane also served as the NCAA Clearinghouse Interpreter at North Babylon High School in North Babylon, N.Y., where he also acted as Principal for their summer school.
He is also the Director and Founder of the East Coach Basketball Camp in Southampton, N.Y. and the Director of the Town of Islip Basketball Summer Program.
A standout starting point guard for Dowling College during the days of legendary coaches Frank Layden and Richard Berg, Pellicane helped lead Dowling to the CIAC championship and a top-10 finish nationally on a 23-2 team during his senior year.
Pellicane received his bachelor's degree in Education/Social Science from Dowling College. He continued his education with a master of science degree in counseling education from Long Island University Post College, then later received his School Administration and Supervisor Professional Diploma from Dowling. On Oct. 10, 2002, Pellicane was enshrined into the Dowling College Athletic Hall of Fame.
He and his wife, Linda, reside in Deer Park, N.Y. Pellicane has three children, Andrea, Keith and Lauren. Lauren was a guard for head coach Harry Perretta at Villanova from 1996-2001, then returned as a graduate assistant for the Wildcats.The Pellicane File
| Coaching Experience | |
| 2000-02, 2006-13 | Head Coach, Dowling |
| 2005-06 | Head Coach, Molloy |
| 2002-04 | Assistant Coach, St. John's University |
| 1986-99 | Head Coach, Dowling College (Men's) |
| 1984-85 | Assistant Coach, Hofstra (Men's) |
| 1981-84 | Head Coach, Farmingdale State (Men's) |
| 1980-81 | Head Coach, Suffolk West CC (Men's) |
| Playing Experience | |
| Dowling College | Point Guard |
| Education | |
| B.S. Education | Dowling College (1970) |
| M.S. Couseling Education | Long Island University Post College |
| School Administration And Professional Diploma |
Dowling College |
| Personal | |
| Hometown | Deer Park, N.Y. |
