St. John’s basketball head coach Mike Anderson receives extension

St. John’s basketball head coach Mike Anderson has agreed to a contract extension. 

The reigning Big East Coach of the Year earned a reward as the St. John’s basketball program and head coach Mike Anderson have agreed to a contract extension through the 2026-27 season.

Anderson arrived in Queens after a long and public search for a head coach after the departure of Chris Mullin, who spent four seasons with his alma mater.

The former head coach of Alabama-Birmingham, Missouri, and Arkansas has never endured a losing season as a college head coach with at least 15 years of experience, joining an active list of Gonzaga’s Mark Few and Michigan State’s Tom Izzo.

Recently retired North Carolina head coach Roy Williams was booted off that list after the Tar Heels finished with a sub-.500 record two years ago.

Mike Anderson overachieved in his first two seasons with the Red Storm having the Johnnies playing the best basketball in the Big East after his first season in Queens, but the conference tournament was canceled at halftime of its quarterfinal matchup against Creighton.

St. John’s earned the No. 4 seed in the Big East Tournament this season, its highest seeding since 2000, but fell in a crushing overtime loss to Seton Hall which eliminated the Johnnies from NCAA Tournament consideration.

Anderson notched career victory No. 400 this season with a victory over Xavier at Carnesecca Arena this season.

“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to serve as head coach at St. John’s University,” Anderson said in a press release.

“I thank Father Shanley and the Board of Trustees, Joe Oliva, Mike Cragg and the entire administration for their unwavering commitment to our program.  Their faith in our vision for St. John’s Basketball is humbling and I greatly look forward to carrying on our program’s tradition of success for many years to come.”

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“None of this would be possible without the dedication of our players, coaches and staff who have represented this fine University well,” Anderson concluded.

The 19th head coach in program history quickly made a positive impression on new university president Father Brian Shanley, “We are excited to have Coach Anderson leading St. John’s Basketball into the next chapter of its rich and storied tradition.”

“In my time at St. John’s, Coach Anderson and the men’s basketball program have represented our University in a first class manner on the court, in the classroom and in the community. We are pleased with his leadership as well as the positive impact he has made within the St. John’s and local community.”

St. John’s basketball sees long term stability at leadership positions

St. John’s also extended the contract of Director of Athletics Mike Cragg on April 28, inking the former Duke deputy athletics director through the 2025-26 school year.

“We are beyond thrilled with Coach Anderson’s leadership and the trajectory on which he has put our program,” Cragg said.

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“I think I speak for everyone in the St. John’s community when I say that we look forward to having both Coach and Marcheita as leading members of our Red Storm family for years to come.”

With Fr. Brian Shanley, Mike Cragg, and Mike Anderson remaining in Queens for years to come, St. John’s finally has the right leadership in place to take its athletic programs to the next level.