NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's basketball associate head coach Jared Grasso was recently named by CoachStat.net as one of its Top 25 Mid-Major Assistant Coaches Ready For A Jump.
The site's national panel of media, scouts, and coaches voted relative to impact on their current program, demonstrated success in college athletics, coaching history, professional and ethical conduct, recruiting success, practice/game planning and management, congeniality, community service and more.
In five-plus seasons under head coach Tim Cluess, Grasso and the Gaels have posted a 132-63 record including an 84-24 (.778) record in MAAC play. The overall winning percentage of .677 is more than 100 points higher than the second place team among the 14 NYC Metropolitan Area Division I basketball programs within 30 miles of the center of NY College basketball, Madison Square Garden. Wagner holds the second best mark at 101-75 (.574). Iona's 84 MAAC wins are 19 more than Rider since 2010, the No. 2 team on the list.
The Gaels have reached five straight postseason tournaments including the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament championship game in 2011, the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013 and the National Invitation Tournament in 2014 and 2015. The Maroon & Gold has captured three MAAC regular season championships in 2012, 2014 and 2015 and a tournament championship in 2013.
CoachStat.net described Grasso: "Simply put, the former Fordham interim head coach is the best assistant coach in the MAAC. His impact on Iona basketball has been nothing short of amazing. Grasso has proven that he can recruit and coach with the best of them. Now it’s only a matter of finding the next best fit."
CoachStat.net Top 25 Mid-Major Assistants Ready For A Jump
1.) Greg Heiar - Wichita State
2.) Justin Hutson - San Diego State
3.) Rob Ehsan - UAB
4.) Bob Cantu - UTEP
5.) Tommy Lloyd - Gonzaga
6.) Kevin Kuwik - Dayton
7.) Bobby Steinburg - Kent State
8.) Mark Downey - IPFW
9.) Ross Hodge - Colorado State
10.) Scott Duncan - Wyoming
11.) Jeff Linder - Boise State
12.) Jared Grasso - Iona
13.) Todd Lee - Grand Canyon
14.) Brian Ayers - Belmont
15.) Wes Long - VCU
16.) Chris Shumate - Western Kentucky
17.) Chris Harriman - New Mexico
18.) Greg Grensing - Middle Tennessee
19.) Lou Gudino - Indiana State
20.) Dustin Kerns - Wofford
21.) Mike Boynton - Stephen F. Austin
22.) Ali Ton - UC Irvine
23.) Brian Burg - UALR
24.) Chris Moore - Southeast Missouri
25.) Charles Thomas - Akron