Lavin Almost Dun(Lap) With Johnny Staff

Steve Lavin puts his last piece of St. John's puzzle in place with the hire of Mike Dunlap as his third assistant coach. (Photo courtesy of redstormsports.com)

It was almost a foregone conclusion two months ago that finally became official today with a press release from Mark Fratto, the associate athletic director for communications at St. John's who serves as the Johnnies' men's basketball SID.

In a move that is being lauded by Red Storm fans and college basketball aficionados across the country, Steve Lavin seemingly completed his staff today with the hiring of Mike Dunlap as his third assistant coach. Dunlap comes to Queens fresh off stints at Oregon and Arizona, and will join Tony Chiles and Rico Hines as Lavin's assistants on the St. John's bench this season. Lavin has also hired Derrick Wrobel in an administrative capacity, and the Dunlap hiring comes two weeks after the new coach tabbed former Rice High School head man Maurice Hicks to be his director of basketball operations. Lavin introduced Dunlap to the St. John's community as a "sound tactician with a deep understanding of the game," who brings a "wealth of experience to our staff."

In addition to having the same Pac-10 ties Lavin possesses, Dunlap spent some time on George Karl's staff as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets as well, and coached professionally in Australia in the mid-1990s.