Norm Roberts Fired Today as St. John’s Red Storm Head Coach

Norm Roberts was fired today as Men’s Basketball head coach of the St. John’s Red Storm after six seasons at the Queens, New York City University.

As posted by redstormsports.com:

St. John's Director of Athletics Chris Monasch announced on Friday that the University will part ways with Norm Roberts, who will not be retained after six seasons as head men's basketball coach. Monasch will begin an immediate national search to find a successor, who will serve as St. John's 19th men's basketball coach as the University prepares for its 103rd season on the hardwood in 2010-11.

"Coach Roberts took over a very challenging situation and has advanced our program in many respects. We appreciate the class and integrity he exhibited in his six years at St. John's. His student-athletes always represented the University in ways consistent with our values, and he has significantly improved the pool of basketball talent since he arrived," said Monasch. "We have high expectations for our program. Along with demanding that our program is run with integrity and that our student-athletes achieve academically and in the community, we expect a high level of success on the court consistent with our tradition."

This is a real shame as Roberts took over a program in turmoil. If schools like St. John’s could recruit the best players in the New York City area they would blow away the Duke’s and Kansas’ Roberts couldn’t keep the local talent at home. I for one saw Roberts bring the school back to respectability after the sex scandal and cash payouts to players during the Mike Jarvis years. The team played their hearts out for their head coach the other night in the NIT and it would have been great seeing the Johnnies play in the NIT Finals at Madison Square Garden. I wish Norm well as he’s a class act.