Iona Hiring FDU Coach Tobin Anderson to Replace Rick Pitino

One of the side stories of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness each year is the springboard for young, unknown coaches to find their way to top programs. According to reports from ESPN’s Pete Tahmel, this year is no different.

Sources: Iona has finalized a five-year deal to make FDU’s Tobin Anderson the school’s next coach. Anderson brings 22 years of head coaching experience and led No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson to the biggest upset in NCAA Tournament history by beating No. 1 Purdue last week. pic.twitter.com/awDU0n14sf

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 21, 2023

Tobin Anderson and his Farliegh Dickeson team shocked the world and the tournament on day one upsetting number-one seed Purdue 63-58. FDU broke most of the brackets with a shocking but well-earned win. Anderson won the weekend with his press conference responses, energy, and enthusiasm. It was only the second time a 16-seed has upset a 1-seed in tournament history. 

As tournament history has shown (Shaka Smart at VCU) over and over again, lower seeds making noise in the tournament typically provide a great job interview for larger programs looking for a new head coach. 

Anderson brings 22 years of coaching to Iona which recently lost its head coach, Rich Pitino, to St. John’s University.