Confirming a Post exclusive from April 13, St. Francis of Brooklyn has named Glenn Braica its head basketball coach.
Braica, a Brooklyn native and graduate of Queens College, was an assistant under Norm Roberts at St. John’s. Braica will replace Brian Nash, who resigned suddenly after five seasons on the job, citing personal reasons, earlier this month.
“I believe that the experience I have gained in all facets of coaching has prepared me for the challenge of re-establishing St. Francis as one of the best programs in the Northeast Conference,” Braica said in a statement. “I will build a program that properly reflects the institution’s high expectations of its student-athletes in the classroom, on the court and in the community.”
The Terriers, who did not make postseason play under Nash and finished 11-18 this season, will rely on a member of their family to turn the tide. Braica worked at St. Francis for 15 seasons in various capacities. In his last seven years there, the Terriers went 118-83, with an 88-42 mark in the Northeast Conference.
“This is a great day for St. Francis College basketball,” athletic director Irma Garcia said in a statement. “Glenn was a solid coach for us when he was here the first time. With Glenn calling the offense, the Terriers were in the top four in the conference almost every year. He knew how to win then, and now with six years in the Big East under his belt, he’s coming back with incredible experience that will give our program a huge lift toward the upper echelon of the Northeast Conference.”
Roberts praised his former assistant.
“I truly believe that Glenn has the whole package,” Roberts said. “He brings experience, tremendous coaching ability as well as the personality and demeanor to promote and elevate St. Francis College to the top of the Northeast Conference.”
*
Columbia, the metropolitan area’s last available coaching job, is still in the interviewing process, a source said. Evan Pickman, an NBA scout with the Clippers, and former Fairfield coach Tim O’Toole are said to be in the mix, as is NJIT coach Jim Engles.
The Lions lost Joe Jones to an assistant’s job at Boston College earlier this month.