Fordham Hoping Tom Is Still Terrific

A target of both St. John's and Seton Hall, Tom Pecora has moved to another New York-area school, as the former Hofstra coach was introduced as the new head man at Fordham earlier today. (Photo courtesy of Hofstra University)

He has been regarded as a great recruiter and an even better man in general, a former Jay Wright assistant who inherited a solid program and maintained Hofstra's status as one of the more successful programs in the New York metropolitan area. After nine years, the job he performed so well on Long Island is going to be replicated, this time in the Bronx.

Tom Pecora was introduced this afternoon as the new head coach at Fordham University, replacing 29-year-old Jared Grasso, who served as the Rams' interim coach after Dereck Whittenburg was fired five games into this past season. Pecora edged out Robert Morris coach and Fordham graduate Mike Rice for the position, and comes to the Rams by way of Hofstra, where he spent nine years as coach of the Pride after Jay Wright, under whom Pecora served as an assistant, left for Villanova in 2001.

While many feel that the task of rebuilding a Fordham team that went 2-26 to conclude the 2009-10 campaign is a challenge, Pecora is optimistic about the road that lies ahead of him. "I believe this is a sleeping giant," said Pecora of Fordham's program. "It's kind of similar to the way Hofstra was when Jay and I took over. I've been down this road before."

Pecora will inherit a roster that includes Chris Gaston, who enters his sophomore season with the Rams after being named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year after averaging 18 points and just over 11 rebounds per game in his freshman year.