Monday, March 30, 2015

Fordham hires Jeff Neubauer as head coach (UPDATED WITH QUOTES)

Jeff Neubauer leaves Eastern Kentucky to replace Tom Pecora at Fordham. (Photo courtesy of the Louisville Courier-Journal)

Rose Hill Gym finally has a new sheriff to patrol its sidelines.

Jeff Neubauer, who spent the last decade at Eastern Kentucky, has been hired as Fordham's new head coach, replacing Tom Pecora, who was relieved of his duties on March 18. A press conference to officially introduce Neubauer will take place Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. on the Fordham campus.

"We are absolutely thrilled that Jeff Neubauer has decided to become the next men's basketball coach at Fordham," athletic director David Roach said in a release issued this afternoon. "He has proven himself as one of the top up-and-coming coaches in the country, and brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program."

Though most of the media in his new locale may not yet know him personally, Neubauer offered an optimistic, and enthusiastic, approach as he embarks on his new endeavor.

"I really love challenges," he said, "and am very aware of how competitive the Atlantic 10 Conference is. I'm looking forward to helping Fordham move forward in the conference."

In ten years at the helm at Eastern Kentucky, Neubauer compiled a 188-134 record with the Colonels, reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2014 out of the Ohio Valley Conference. Prior to becoming a head coach, the 44-year-old spent nine years as an assistant to John Beilein, following him to West Virginia from the University of Richmond.

"Jeff is one of the brightest coaches I have ever been associated with," said Beilein, now the head coach at the University of Michigan, of his disciple. "His knowledge of the game, the players and recruits, along with his versatile coaching style, make him a rising star. He and his staff will have a lasting effect and positive impact on the future of Fordham basketball."

Born in Gainesville, Florida, but a native of Slidell, Louisiana, Neubauer's candidacy for the Fordham vacancy materialized over the weekend, after an apparent deal with Robert Morris head coach Andy Toole fell through. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at The Citadel, where he worked from 1993 to 1996 while earning his Masters in Business Administration. He is also a 1993 graduate of La Salle University, where he played for an Explorer program coached by Speedy Morris, assisted by current Hofstra head coach Joe Mihalich.

2 comments:

  1. Curious as to whether Neubauer will want to keep 3 signed players? Jersey point guard looks to be too small for A-10 level of play. Other recruits, Canadian guard and forward from Mass seem to be A-10 caliber players.

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  2. I hope Neubauer is being paid very well. The Fordham job is a career killer.

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