Iona Gaels

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Iona Gaels
Iona Gaels logo.svg
University Iona University
Conference Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (primary)
Collegiate Water Polo Association (men's water polo)
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorMatthew Glovaski
Location New Rochelle, New York
Varsity teams21
Basketball arena Hynes Center
Baseball stadiumCity Park
Soccer stadium Mazzella Field
MascotKillian
Nickname Gaels
Fight songHail To Iona
ColorsMaroon and gold [1]
   
Website www.icgaels.com

The Iona Gaels are the athletics teams of Iona University, in New Rochelle, New York. They compete in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and participate in 21 NCAA Division I programs.

Contents

Varsity athletic programs

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross countryLacrosse
Golf Rowing
RowingSoccer
Soccer Softball
Swimming and divingSwimming and diving
Track and field†Track and field†
Water poloVolleyball
Water polo
† – Track and field indoor only

Men's basketball

Iona University has been competing in men's basketball since the inception of the school in 1940. Iona is an original member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, which began play in men's basketball with the 1981–82 season. The Gaels have compiled the most victories of any MAAC team since the founding of the conference and have won a league record seven MAAC titles. During their history, the Gaels have participated in 15 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championships compiling a record of 1–15. The lone win for the Gaels came in 1980 against Holy Cross, 84–78, which was later vacated due to NCAA violations. The Gaels were the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament runners up. [2]

Victories against ranked opponents:

Notable Men's Basketball Coaches at Iona:

On April 9, 2010, Tim Cluess was named the 12th head coach in the history of Iona men's basketball. Cluess is a graduate of Hofstra University and formerly the head coach of the C.W. Post men's basketball team. He has won 20 games and a postseason berth in each of his first eight seasons as the head coach of Iona, the only coach in the history of the program to accomplish the feat. [3] As of January 30, 2019, Cluess is No. 2 on Iona's all-time wins list. [3]

Gaels who have played in the NBA:

Steve Burtt Sr. is Iona's all-time leading scorer with 2,534 career points.

Women's basketball

The Gaels have been competing in NCAA women's basketball since the 1974–75 season. They are a founding member of the MAAC and are coached by Billi Godsey, a graduate of Hofstra University. Godsey was named head coach for the 2013–14 season. In her first season, the Gaels earned their first ever MAAC Regular Season Championship. The program has five postseason appearances, the 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014 Women's National Invitation Tournaments, and an appearance in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament in 2016. They hold a 2–5 record in postseason play.

Cross country, track and field

Iona men's cross country is one of the top programs in NCAA Division I having earned 15 top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championship in the past 19 years from 2002–present. [4] The Gaels finished as the runner up at consecutive championships in 2007 and 2008. The program finished third overall in 2006, and fourth overall in 2003 and 2005. The Gaels have finished in the top three at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship in 24 of the last 26 years dating back to 1997, including titles in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2023. [4] The program has also captured 33 straight Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles, the longest active streak in NCAA. [5] Leonard Korir became the Gaels' first NCAA Championship winner when he won the 2011 NCAA Indoor 5000m title. Later that year he won the NCAA Outdoor 10000m championship. [6]

The women's cross country program also claimed their first NCAA Northeast Regional Title in the 2014 season, qualifying for their second NCAA National Appearance, the first being in 2006. [7] Iona earned its first individual Cross Country title in 2014 when Kate Avery won the NCAA National title, [8] becoming only the second National Champion in Iona history and the first Female student-athlete from Iona to claim an NCAA title.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the program gained its first Olympians. The Gaels had three representatives in Track and Field. Leonard Korir competed in the 10,000m for the United States where he finished 14th in a time of 27:35.65. [9] The Women's program had two alumni compete at the games. Maya Rehberg represented Germany in the 3000m Steeplechase where she finished 15th in the third heat. Her time of 9:51.73 ranked Rehberg 44th overall. [10] Anna Baumeister competed for Denmark in the Women's Marathon. Baumeister finished in a time of 2:29.49 which earned her 55th place.

Joseph Pienta is the current head coach of both the men's and women's cross country and track and field programs. Pienta took over the head coaching position in 2018 after being an assistant coach for just under a decade. Ricardo Santos is the previous head coach of both the men's and women's programs. Santos is a graduate of Iona and received All-American Honors for cross-country in 1998 whilst representing the Gaels. Santos had been head coach of the cross country and track and field programs since 2008 before leaving the Gaels to coach the performance team at BAA (Boston Athletic Association). [11] Santos is now on the coaching staff for men's cross country and track and field for the Stanford Cardinals.

Iona hosts their Meet of Champions cross country invitational annually at the start of each cross country season. Their home course is the cross country trails at Van Cortlandt Park, in the Bronx, New York.

Mazzella Field and Hynes Athletics Center Hynes Athletics Center and Mazzella Field.jpg
Mazzella Field and Hynes Athletics Center

Discontinued sports

Football

Iona's football program ran from 1965 to 2008. The program was ended in part due to the dissolution of the MAAC Football League in 2007.

Ice Hockey

The Iona Gaels Ice Hockey program began as an NCAA Division III program in 1967 under coach Harry Nixon, under whom they enjoyed their first season unbeaten. Playing as an Independent program since the program's conception, the Gaels joined the Division III tier of the ECAC Ice Hockey Conference in 1977, before the MAAC introduced Ice Hockey as a sport within the conference in 1998. Their best finish in the MAAC tournament came in the 2000 season, where they placed second. [12]

The program ran until the end of the 2002–03 NCAA Ice Hockey season, after the board of trustees decided to remove the program from the Gaels' varsity sports teams. [13]

Facilities

Rivalries

Iona's rivals include the following:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference</span> U.S. college athletic conference

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Cluess</span> American basketball coach (born 1959)

Timothy Michael Cluess is an American college basketball coach who most recently was the head men's basketball coach at Iona College. He is also a former head coach of Long Island University–C.W. Post.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iona Gaels men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team of Iona University

The Iona Gaels men's basketball team represents Iona University in New Rochelle, New York in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) and plays home games in Hynes Athletic Center. On March 21, 2023, the Gaels hired Tobin Anderson as their head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2010–11 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by first year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at Hynes Athletics Center and are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 25–12, 13–5 in MAAC and lost in the championship game of the 2011 MAAC men's basketball tournament to Saint Peter's. They were invited to the 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament where they advanced to the championship game before falling to Santa Clara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012–13 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2012–13 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by third year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 20–14, 11–7 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for fourth place. They were champions of the MAAC tournament, defeating Manhattan in the championship game, to earn an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA tournament where they lost in the second round to Ohio State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iona Gaels softball</span> College softball team

The Iona Gaels softball team represents Iona University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). The Gaels are currently led by head coach Alyssa Tiumalu. The team plays its home games at the Donald E. Walsh Field at Rice Oval located on the university's campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2013–14 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by fourth year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 22–11, 17–3 to win the MAAC regular season championship. They advanced to the championship game of the MAAC tournament where they lost to Manhattan. As a regular season conference champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Louisiana Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2014–15 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2014–15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by fifth year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 26–9, 17–3 in MAAC play to finish win the MAAC regular season championship. They defeated Siena and Monmouth to advance to the championship game of the MAAC tournament where they lost to Manhattan. As a regular season champion who failed to win their conference tournament, they received an automatic bid to the National Invitation Tournament where they lost in the first round to Rhode Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by sixth year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 22–11, 16–4 in MAAC play to finish in second place. They defeated Canisius, Siena, and Monmouth to be champions of the MAAC tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where, as a #13 seed, they lost in the first round to Iowa State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 Iona Gaels women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2015–16 Iona Gaels women's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2015–16 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Iona Gaels were coached by second year head coach, Billi Godsey. They played their home games in New Rochelle, New York, at the Hynes Athletic Center, and were members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 23–12, 16–4 in MAAC play to finish in second place. They were champions of the MAAC women's tournament to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA women's tournament, where they lost in the first round to Maryland.

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Leonard Essau Korir is an American long-distance runner who competes over distances from 5000 meters to the marathon. He is a two-time NCAA champion, winning an indoor 5000 m title and outdoor 10,000 meters title in 2011 for the Iona Gaels. He gained United States citizenship and began competing for his adoptive nation in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Rehberg</span> German steeplechase runner

Maya Rehberg is a German athlete specializing in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She won the bronze medal at the 2013 European Junior Championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2016–17 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by seventh year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 22–13, 12–8 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for third place. They defeated Rider, Saint Peter's and Siena to be champions of the MAAC tournament. They received the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost in the first round to Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2017–18 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by eighth-year head coach Tim Cluess, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the season 20–14, 11–7 in MAAC play, to finish in fourth place. As the No. 4 seed in the 2018 MAAC tournament, they defeated Manhattan, Saint Peter's and Fairfield, to become champions of the MAAC tournament for the third consecutive time. They earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, where they lost in the first round to Duke, 89–67.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2018–19 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels were led by ninth-year head coach Tim Cluess, and played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). They finished the regular season 17–16 overall, 12–6 in MAAC play, to win the regular season championship. As the No. 1 seed in the 2019 MAAC tournament, they defeated No. 9 seed Saint Peter's, No. 5 seed Siena and No. 6 seed Monmouth 81–60, to become champions of the MAAC tournament for a record fourth consecutive time. They earned the MAAC's automatic bid to the 2019 NCAA tournament, receiving a 16 seed in the Midwest region, and facing No. 1 seed North Carolina in the first round. Iona led 38–33 at the half, while making 10-of-21 three-pointers. But North Carolina opened the second half on a 25–7 run, leading by as many as 20, en route to an 88–73 victory. Iona's 15 made three-point field goals are the most ever by a North Carolina opponent in its NCAA tournament history of 171 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2019–20 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College in the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels were to be led by 10th-year head coach Tim Cluess, but he never coached a game for health reasons. Associate head coach Tra Arnold took over the head coaching duties for this season. They played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. They finished the season 12–17, 9–11 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for sixth place. As the No. 7 seed in the MAAC tournament, they defeated Canisius before losing to Saint Peter's in the quarterfinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference men's basketball season</span> Sports season

The 2020–21 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) men's basketball season began with practices in October 2020, followed by the start of the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season on November 25. Conference play started in December and concluded in March 2021. This season was the 40th season of MAAC basketball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Iona Gaels men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2020–21 Iona Gaels men's basketball team represented Iona College in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Gaels, led by first-year head coach Rick Pitino, played their home games at the Hynes Athletic Center in New Rochelle, New York as members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they finished the season 12–6, 6–3 in MAAC play to finish in a tie for ninth place. As the No. 9 seed in the MAAC tournament, they defeated Quinnipiac, Siena, and Niagara to advance to the tournament championship game. They defeated Fairfield to win the tournament championship and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They received a No. 15 seed in the East region, and lost in the first round to No. 2 seed Alabama 55–68.

References

  1. ↑ "Logo Library - ICGaels.com". June 26, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Santa Clara ends season with win in CollegeInsider.com tourney final". Espn.go.com. March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Iona Men's Basketball Game Notes, December 10, 2014 http://icgaels.com/fls/14900/stats/mbasketball/2014-15/gamenotes/14-12-10-Rider.pdf
  4. 1 2 "Men's Cross Country - A Historical Perspective - ICGaels.com - Official website of Iona College Athletics". ICGaels.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Champions!!! Iona MXC Wins 33rd Straight MAAC Title". November 2, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Official Website of Iona College Athletics". www.icgaels.com. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ "WXC Claims First-Ever Regional Crown - Iona College". Iona College Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Kate Avery Claims WXC NCAA Championship - Iona College". Iona College Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Team USA's Leonard Korir Finishes 14th In 10k At Rio 2016 - Iona College". Iona College Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Rehberg Competes In 3k Steeplechase At Rio 2016 - Iona College". Iona College Athletics. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Ricardo Santos Biography - ICGaels.com - Official website of Iona College Athletics". Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  12. ↑ "MAAC Tournament". www.augenblick.org. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Iona Next to Drop Hockey :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". Archived from the original on December 19, 2014.

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