Fairleigh Dickinsons Tobin Anderson leaving for Iona: How his coaching style helped him land the

Fairleigh Dickinson men’s basketball coach Tobin Anderson is leaving the program for the same role at Iona, the schools announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What Anderson brings to Iona
Anderson’s profile understandably skyrocketed over the weekend on the heels of FDU’s incredible upset over Purdue, and there are some obvious reasons his coaching style would be so attractive. Anderson, who had prior experience as an assistant at the Division I level, went 209-62 in nine seasons at Divison II St. Thomas Aquinas in Sparkill, N.Y.
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He then flipped an FDU program that went 4-22 in 2021-22 into a 21-win team in his lone season at the helm, thanks in large part to his frenetic, aggressive, full-court system and a trio of players he brought with him from St. Thomas. Much was made about FDU reaching the NCAA Tournament on account of Northeast Conference champ Merrimack not being eligible, but Anderson still did an incredible job with the Knights this season before shocking Purdue.
His ability to translate his style of play that quickly at the DI level — and with some DII talent on the roster — was an easy selling point for an Iona program looking to replace an established winner in Pitino. — Williams
Backstory
Anderson was hired at FDU last May. He previously held multiple Division III head-coaching roles and spent nine seasons with Division II St. Thomas Aquinas.
The upset win over Purdue was the Knights’ third NCAA Tournament victory ever, including their First Four win this year. They lost the NEC tournament championship game to Merrimack by one point on March 7.
Iona, meanwhile, lost to UConn in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gaels went 27-8 this season, Pitino’s third with the program.
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(Photo: Joseph Maiorana / USA Today)
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