Head Coach Joe Mihalich and winning go hand-in-hand.
No coach won more games in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference than Mihalich. His 265 wins during his 15-year tenure as head coach of the Niagara Purple Eagles set a new standard of success. Coach Mihalich was honored as a member of the MAAC 40th Anniversary Men’s Basketball Team for his achievements, earlier today.
Mihalich coached Niagara to two MAAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in 2005 and 2007. The 2005 appearance was the program’s first in 35 years. The Purple Eagles earned their only tournament win in program history over Florida A&M in the Opening Round in 2007.
Niagara also appeared in the National Invitational Tournament three times under Mihalich’s guide. The 2013 team was youngest in the MAAC at the time, and won the conference’s regular season title.
Mihalich joined Ted Fiore as the only MAAC head coaches named Coach of the Year three times throughout their careers. He was also a two-time National Association of Basketball Coaches District I Coach of the Year and a Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award honoree. The head coach won nine coaching awards during his tenure.
Three Purple Eagles– Alvin Young (1998-99), Demond Young (2000-01) and Juan Mendez (2004-05)– were MAAC Player of the Year Winners under Mihalich. Four of the program’s top five all-time scorers– Mendez (2,210 points), Antione Mason (1,934 points), Tyrone Lewis (1,849 points) and Charron Fisher (1,799 points)– played for the head coach.
Coach Mihalich is currently the head coach of the reigning CAA Men’s Basketball Champion Hofstra Pride. The team won its first conference championship this past season.
