Seton Hall Hires Gonzalez

    
April 9th, 2006 by Raphielle Johnson
» Tags
Friday afternoon, Seton Hall University named Bobby Gonzalez to be their eighteenth head coach in school history. This will be Coach Gonzalez’s second head coaching gig on the collegiate level, a head coaching career that began in 1999 when he took over at Manhattan. His record at Manhattan was 129-77 overall, with a record of 85-41 in MAAC regular season contests. During his tenure at Manhattan, the Jaspers won three regular season league titles and two conference tournament crowns. He also led his team to two appearances each in the NCAA and NIT tournaments, getting wins over the likes of Florida (2004 NCAA) and Maryland (2006 NIT).

 

Gonzalez, a former Pete Gillen assistant (with stops at Xavier, Providence, and Virginia) has a wealth of contacts in the New York metropolitan area, one of the main reasons for the hiring by AD Joe Quinlan. Coach Gonzalez is a hard-working recruiter, attracting the likes of Luis Flores to Manhattan during his tenure, and an excellent communicator as well. Having contacts on the high school and AAU levels in the area is a definite positive, something that he will look to use immediately given the fact that no recruits are signed for the upcoming season.

 

Quick Analysis of the Hire

 

Joe Quinlan’s first hire as athletic director is a good one. With Tom Pecora deciding to stay at Hofstra, Gonzalez was the best choice for this position, especially with Rutgers hiring Fred Hill to take over their program. Seton Hall doesn’t have the best resources for a program in a marquis conference, so an excellent communicator was needed for this position to get in the room with the area’s coaches and recruits. They found their man in Gonzalez.

 

Leading Returnees

 

            Points: Jamar Nutter- 12.1 ppg

            Rebounds: Stan Gaines- 3.9 rpg

            Assists: Gaines- 1.8 apg

            Field Goal %: Grant Billmeier- 55.1%

            3 Point %: Nutter- 38.4%

 

Bobby Gonzalez at Manhattan

 

2005-06: 20-11

2004-05: 15-14

2003-04: 25-6 - NCAA

2002-03: 23-7 - NCAA

2001-02: 20-9

2000-01: 14-15

1999-00: 12-15

 

Louis Orr at Seton Hall

 

2005-06: 18-12 - NCAA

2004-05: 12-16

2003-04: 21-10 - NCAA

2002-03: 17-13

2001-02: 12-18