Majerus to Lead Billiken Basketball
Transcript of Press Conference
April 30, 2007 ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., introduced Rick Majerus as the men's basketball head coach today. Majerus is the Billikens' 24th mentor in the program's history. Prior to working as a college basketball analyst for ESPN for the last three years, Majerus amassed a 422-147 career head coaching record. When coaching a full season, he has missed the postseason just two times in 17 seasons. "I am extremely excited about having a person of Rick Majerus' stature and reputation at the helm of our men's basketball team, I know that we are now headed to take our men's basketball team to the next level," Biondi said. "Rick and I have gotten a chance to know each other over the past several days, and I am impressed with all that he will bring to our men's basketball program, including his commitment to run a program that we can all be proud of." Majerus' record stands among the elite coaches in college basketball. He has taken 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament and four to the NIT. He has reached the 20-win plateau 13 times, including two seasons with 30 wins. In 17 full seasons, Majerus has never had a losing record. "Saint Louis University is where I want to be, and I am excited to return to my passion, which is coaching basketball," said Majerus. "Fr. Biondi is giving me all of things I need to make SLU men's basketball successful in the years ahead. I am energized to get started, and I see nothing but great opportunities ahead with the opening of the new Chaifetz Arena and a nucleus of dedicated returning players" "Rick Majerus is known as one of the most passionate basketball coaches in America, and he has already communicated that passion to all he has met at SLU," said director of athletics Cheryl L. Levick. "Rick is committed to improving the national profile of our men's basketball program, which is what our athletic department and all Billiken fans want. We are also excited about what this means to SLU athletics."
In 12 full seasons at Utah, Majerus led the Utes to 10 NCAA Tournaments and 10 regular-season conference titles. He has coached in four Sweet 16s, two Elite Eights and the 1998 national championship game. Utah finished four seasons ranked in the nation's top 10 during his 15-year tenure, including a No. 2 ranking at the end of the 1997-98 season. Majerus was named national Coach of the Year five times while at Utah. He was a seven-time District Coach of the Year and five-time conference Coach of the Year. Prior to taking the helm at Utah, Majerus spent two seasons at Ball State, leading the 1988-89 squad to a 29-3 overall record and a spot in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His two-year stint at Ball State was preceded by a one-year venture into professional basketball as an assistant coach for his home-state Milwaukee Bucks in 1986-87. Majerus accepted his first head coaching job at his alma mater, Marquette, in 1983-84 after 12 years as an assistant there. In three years as the head coach, he led the Golden Eagles to a 56-35 record, including a 20-11 season in 1984-85 when they reached the third round of the NIT. A native of Wisconsin, Majerus graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in history in 1970. He is enshrined in the Basketball Halls of Fame in both Utah (2000) and Wisconsin (2001) and was named the Utah Sports Person of the Year in 1991 and 1997. MAJERUS' HEAD COACHING RECORD
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