Roberts, the former head coach of St. John’s Red Storm basketball team, was succeeded by Steve Lavin this past off-season. Roberts lead the Red Storm from 2004-2009 finishing 64-85 in overall play and 26-58 in Big East play. Last year was one of Roberts’ best seasons at the helm at St. John’s leading his team to the second round of the Big East tournament. The Red Storm gave fans hope beating UConn 73-51 in the first round but lost a heart breaker to Marquette 57-55 in the next round. The Johnnies received a bid to their first NIT appearance under Norm but were quickly ousted in the first round by the Memphis Tigers 73-71.
Two days after the loss, it was announced that Norm Roberts would be fired as head coach of St. John’s. There were reports early in April that insisted Roberts was a candidate for the Iona job that was also looking for a head coach after Kevin Willard left the program and accepted the head coaching position at Seton Hall University. Roberts wasn’t interested in coaching the Gaels leaving the job open for former St. John’s player Tim Cluess.
Roberts, who took over a tainted St. Johns program and helped rebuild it’s name over his 6 year tenure, is now joining SNY and its likely that he will replace the void on the panel left by Tim Welsh. Welsh was hired by Hofstra University to become their next head coach but he resigned 29 days after receiving the job because he was charged with a DWI. Welsh was apart of pre-game, halftime and post-game along with Charles Smith and the host of the Big East Basketball Studio, Gary Apple.
We here at Johnny Jungle wish Norm Roberts the best of luck at his new job.
Happy that Norm found a job near his home and family. I wish him well. I think he’ll do a good job at SNY and hopefully his voice isn’t so hoarse without having to yell at practices daily.