Iona fires Tobin Anderson after two seasons, Dan Geriot expected to be successor

Iona parted ways with Tobin Anderson Monday, just two years after hiring him following historic NCAA Tournament run at FDU. (Photo by Sports Illustrated)

One MAAC job has opened this offseason, and one whose sudden vacancy was unexpected to almost everyone.

Less than 48 hours after leading Iona to the championship game of the MAAC tournament, head coach Tobin Anderson was relieved of his duties Monday morning. The move also comes two years to the day that the 53-year-old became a national sensation when his FDU team stunned Purdue in the NCAA Tournament, becoming just the second No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in March Madness.

“Iona University has announced a change in leadership for its men’s basketball program,” the school said in a release Monday. “As the landscape of college basketball continues to evolve, the university is taking strategic steps to position the program for sustained success.”

“We appreciate Tobin and everything he has done for our program,” Iona athletic director Matt Glovaski said in the release. “He has been a valuable member of our Iona community. With the impact of NIL changing college basketball in ways no one could have imagined, Iona feels the need to shift the direction of our men’s basketball program. This requires an overhaul of our entire business model and program structure.”

In two seasons at Iona, Anderson led the Gaels to a 33-34 record, but was 22-18 in MAAC play. He also had to rebuild his entire roster in both seasons, retaining only Osborn Shema two years ago after the majority of the team transferred following Rick Pitino’s departure for St. John’s. This past season, Anderson was unable to retain any players, but still managed to bring Iona to a fourth-place finish in the MAAC.

Several Iona players have taken to social media to express their consternation over Anderson’s sudden dismissal. It is worth noting that the transfer portal is scheduled to open on March 24.

The university has not formally announced plans for a national search to find a new coach as of yet, however, one candidate has emerged as the favorite. Multiple sources are reporting that Dan Geriot, currently an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans, is the lead candidate to succeed Anderson. The 36-year-old Geriot has spent the past nine seasons in the professional ranks, and is currently in his first year with the Pelicans after spending seven years as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2021-22, Geriot was the head coach of the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate, before returning to Cleveland. As a player, he led the University of Richmond to the Sweet 16 in 2011 along with head coach Chris Mooney.

More information will be posted as it becomes available.