On Tuesday, it was reported by college basketball insider Jon Rothstein that Farleigh Dickinson head coach Tobin Anderson would leave the program for the head coach opening at Iona. The job became vacant after Rick Pitino accepted the head coaching job at St. John’s.
Dickinson joined the FDU program last March and is now cashing in on his success in the NCAA Tournament as he leaves the program after one year on the job.
Per Rothstein on Twitter, “Tobin Anderson has informed FDU that he’s leaving for the Iona job.” Prior to joining FDU, Anderson was the head coach of Division II St. Thomas Aquinas in Sparkill, New York.
Sources: Tobin Anderson has informed FDU that he's leaving for the Iona job. https://t.co/M63tN2PJHo
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 21, 2023
The Spartans finished last season with a 28-5 record and 17-1 in conference play. The Spartans won the ECC (East Coast Conference) title and their season ended in the Division II NCAA Tournament against Bentley in the East Regional, 82-75.
That game ended a 16-game winning streak for St. Thomas Aquinas College. Anderson led the FDU Knights to a 21-16 record and 10-6 in Northeast Conference play. The Knights fell to Merrimack in the NEC championship game but due to Warriors being ineligible for the NCAA Tournament, the Knights were given the opportunity to compete in the Field of 68.
After knocking off Texas Southern in the First Four, FDU would upset No. 1 Purdue in the Round of 64 before falling to Florida Atlantic, 78-70, for a chance to compete in the Sweet 16. FDU became the second men’s team ever to beat a No. 1 seed in the first round as a No. 16 seed joining UMBC, after their win over Virginia in 2018.
Now Anderson will look to bring the Gaels past the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1980 when they lost in the second round to Georgetown, 74-71.
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