NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Iona College is pleased to announce contract extensions for both its men’s and women’s basketball head coaches, Tim Cluess and Billi Godsey through the 2021-22 season.
“The Iona community and Gael Nation are proud to have Coach Cluess and Coach Godsey remain the leaders of the Iona basketball programs,” said President Joseph E. Nyre, Ph.D. “We are excited about the bright future ahead for the Gaels following another successful year.”
“Tim and Billi continue to lead our two programs the right way and their success within the MAAC and the New York Metropolitan Area speak for themselves,” said Vice President for Athletics Administration Rick Cole Jr. “Their commitment to Iona athletics’ mission of building champions both on and off the court is remarkable. I’m excited to work with them both as they position Iona College and our student-athletes for success.”
Coach Cluess led the men’s basketball program to a second straight MAAC Championship in early March to earn a fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in his seven years at the helm. The Gaels have earned a postseason appearance in all seven of his years as the program has put together an overall record of 162-78 (.675).
The Maroon & Gold has appeared in the MAAC championship game in six of the last seven seasons, claiming three titles along with three regular season crowns. Iona has won 20 or more games in eight straight seasons, including seven under coach Cluess. The stretch is both twice as long as Iona’s previous program record and the previous MAAC record for consecutive 20 win seasons.
“I have to thank the Iona College community, especially our alumni, for their support of our program, the coaching staff, myself and my family,” said Cluess. “Additionally, I am grateful for the support shown by President Nyre, Rick Cole Jr. and our entire administration. I am excited to continue to be a part of Gael Nation and look forward to continued success and growth for Iona College and Iona men’s basketball.”
Coach Godsey concluded her fourth season as leader of the women’s basketball program in 2016-17 and has amassed a record of 82-46 (.641). The Maroon & Gold advanced to the MAAC tournament semifinal round this season, a year after claiming the program’s first-ever MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2015-16.
Under Godsey’s tutelage, Iona has finished in the top half of the MAAC standings in every year. In 2013-14, the Gaels earned an 18-2 regular season conference mark to earn MAAC Regular Season Co-Champion honors. The 18 conference wins remains a school record.
“I am thankful to President Nyre, Rick Cole Jr. and the entire Iona College family for the continued opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program,” said Godsey. “After continued program growth this season following a MAAC Championship in 2016, my staff and I are committed to bringing the program to another NCAA Tournament.”
Combined, Cluess and Godsey have recorded 244 victories, four MAAC tournament and four MAAC regular season titles. Individually, the two are currently among the winningest coaches in the New York Metropolitan area.
COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT A GLANCE
| TIM CLUESS | BILLI GODSEY |
| Record at Iona: | Record at Iona: |
| 162-78 (.675) / seven seasons | 82-46 (.641) / four seasons |
| Overall NCAA Record: | Career Head Coach: |
| 260-101 (.720) / 11 seasons | 82-46 (.641) / four seasons |
| Career Head Coach*: | |
| 547-190 (.742) / 27 seasons | |
| *- includes record at St. Mary’s Manhasset HS and Suffolk CC | |
| 2016-17 | 2016-17 |
| MAAC Tournament Champion / NCAA Tournament | MAAC Semifinalist |
| 2015-16 | 2015-16 |
| MAAC Tournament Champion / NCAA Tournament | MAAC Tournament Champions / NCAA Tournament |
| 2014-15 | 2014-15 |
| MAAC Regular Season Champion / NIT Appearance | MAAC Quarterfinalist |
| 2013-14 | 2013-14 |
| MAAC Regular Season Champion / NIT Appearance | Co-Regular Season Champions / NIT Appearance |
| 2012-13 | |
| MAAC Tournament Champion / NCAA Tournament | |
| 2011-12 | |
| MAAC Regular Season Champion / NCAA Tournament At-Large | |
| 2010-11 | |
| CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) Finalist | |
| 11 All-MAAC First Team Performers | Eight All-MAAC First Team Performers |
| A.J. English 3x, Mike Glover 2x, Scott Machado 2x, Sean Armand, Lamont Jones, David Laury, Jordan Washington | Joy Adams 3x, Damika Martinez 2x, Marina Lizarazu x2, Alexis Lewis |
| Five All-MAAC Second Team Performers | One All-MAAC Second Team Performer |
| Armand, Jones, Laury, Washington, Schadrac Casimir | Aleesha Powell |
| One All-MAAC Third Team Performer | One MAAC All-Rookie Team Performer |
| Laury | Lewis |
| Two MAAC All-Rookie Team Performers | Two MAAC Players of the Year |
| Casimir, E.J. Crawford | Martinez 2x |
| Three MAAC Players of the Year | Two MAAC Sixth Players of the Year |
| Machado, Jones, Laury | Aaliyah Robinson, Lewis |
| One MAAC Rookie of the Year | One New York Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Year |
| Casimir | Martinez |
| Two New York Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Players of the Year | One MAAC Coach of the Year |
| Machado, Jones | Godsey, 2014 |
| One MAAC Coach of the Year | |
| Cluess, 2014 |
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN STANDINGS* UNDER COACH CLUESS & GODSEY
*-14 Schools within 30 Miles of Madison Square Garden
MEN’S STANDINGS (2010-2017)
|
Team W L PCT Postseason appearances |
|
|
IONA 162 78 .675 7 (4 NCAA, 2 NIT, 1 CIT) |
|
|
LIU Brooklyn 129 94 .578 3 (3 NCAA) |
|
|
Wagner 125 92 .576 1 (1 NIT) |
|
|
Seton Hall 128 102 .557 3 (2 NCAA, 1 NIT) |
|
|
Columbia 110 98 .529 2 (2 CIT) |
|
|
N.J.I.T. 110 106 .509 2 (2 CIT) |
|
|
St. John’s 114 115 .498 4 (2 NCAA, 2 NIT) |
|
|
Manhattan 108 118 .478 3 (2 NCAA, 1 CIT) |
|
|
Hofstra 107 123 .465 3 (1 NIT, 2 CBI) |
|
|
St. Francis (NY) 102 118 .464 1 (1 NIT) |
|
|
Saint Peter’s 99 125 .442 2 (1 NCAA, 1 CIT) |
|
|
Rutgers 88 137 .391 |
|
|
Fordham 74 138 .349 1 (1 CIT) |
|
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Fairleigh Dickinson 62 150 .292 1 (1 NCAA) |
|
WOMEN’S STANDINGS (2013-2017)
| Team W L PCT Postseason appearances |
| St. John’s 91 44 .674 4 (2 NCAA, 2 WNIT) |
| IONA 82 46 .641 2 (1 NCAA, 1 WNIT) |
| Seton Hall 83 48 .634 3 (2 NCAA, 1 WNIT) |
| Fordham 82 49 .626 3 (1 NCAA, 2 WNIT) |
| Rutgers 76 58 .567 2 (1 NCAA, 1 WNIT) |
| Hofstra 72 55 .567 2 (2 WNIT) |
| St. Francis (NY) 49 74 .398 1 (1 NCAA) |
| Columbia 39 73 .348 |
| N.J.I.T. 35 83 .297 |
| Manhattan 35 86 .289 |
| LIU Brooklyn 33 86 .277 |
| Fairleigh Dickinson 32 89 .264 |
| Wagner 25 92 .214 |
| Saint Peter’s 15 106 .124 |