The Gaels: A Legacy of Athletic Excellence

Collegiate athletics hold a special place, fostering teamwork, discipline, and personal growth in student-athletes. Saint Mary's College of California and Iona University, both home to teams nicknamed the Gaels, exemplify this spirit. The moniker "Gaels" itself has historical roots, referring to an ethno-linguistic group originating from Ireland and spreading to Scotland and the Isle of Man, with their language belonging to the Gaelic family.

Saint Mary's Gaels: A West Coast Powerhouse

Saint Mary's College of California, located in Moraga, boasts a diverse array of NCAA Division I teams known as the Gaels. Among these, the Men's Basketball program stands out as a national powerhouse, consistently achieving postseason success. The Gaels compete in the West Coast Conference (WCC), where they have forged a fierce rivalry with the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

A Winning Culture

Success on the court and field brings visibility, excitement, and a more energized support base, enhancing the overall educational experience. The Saint Mary's Gaels football team competed in the NCAA as a Division II Independent program. The men's rugby team, the oldest athletic club at the school, plays college rugby in Division 1-A in the California conference.

The Randy Bennett Era

Coach Randy Bennett has been instrumental in elevating the Men's Basketball program to national recognition. With over 500 wins, his impact is undeniable, marked by a culture beloved by fans, alumni, and players alike. His leadership has made Saint Mary's basketball a signature part of the school's identity.

A winning sports program like the one Coach Randy Bennett has created elevates the school’s stature around the state, across the country, and oftentimes internationally.

Gael Legends

Even before Randy Bennett's arrival, Gael legends like Frank Kudelka, Ron Livingstone, and Tom Meschery made their mark. Kudelka and Livingstone were the first two Gaels to reach the NBA, while Meschery, who played from 1958 to 1961, became the first NBA standout, even playing alongside Wilt Chamberlain. Tom Meschery donned a Gaels jersey from 1958 to 1961 (including the ’59 team that made the NCAA tournament). Tom was our first NBA standout and played with the Philadelphia Warriors after being drafted seventh overall in 1961. He played with some guy named Wilt Chamberlain (who I’m told was a pretty good player, too). They paved the way: Tom Meschery, No. 31, and Brad Millard, No. 52. There are also the two teams-’89 and ’97-that made the NCAA tournament just prior to Randy’s arrival in 2001. I was sad to learn about last year’s passing of Brad Millard, star of the ’97 team.

Notable Players

Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova, both active NBA players, along with Tom Meschery, have had their numbers retired in the University Credit Union Pavilion. Anja Bordt, a women's player and two-time WCC player of the year, also holds this honor. Patty and Matthew are among three Gaels currently playing in the NBA (Jock Landale being the other). Players such as Logan Johnson, left, have partnered with Coach Randy Bennett and his staff to help create excitement, enthusiasm, and team spirit for fans, alumni, and other supporters. Finally, I should note that current Associate Head Coach Mickey McConnell-a former player of Randy’s-is the author of perhaps the biggest shot in Saint Mary's history. With 1:22 remaining in the second round of the 2010 NCAA Tournament, Mickey banked in a three-pointer to put tenth-seeded Saint Mary's up over second-seeded Villanova 68-65, a lead the Gaels would never relinquish. It effectively sent Saint Mary’s to the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

The Australian Pipeline

Under Coach Bennett, Saint Mary's has developed a reputation for recruiting Australian players. The "Australian pipeline," historically focused on the Australian Institute of Sport, has brought talent like Adam Caporn, Daniel Kickert, Patty Mills, and Matthew Dellavedova to Moraga. The 2015-16 team had four AIS graduates, boasting a total of six Australians, and the 2016-17 roster had a program record of seven Australians. In the latter season, the Gaels went so far as to hold an official celebration of Australia Day for their home game against San Francisco, which fell on the holiday's date of January 26.

Rivalries and Success

Saint Mary's biggest rivalry is with fellow West Coast Conference foe Gonzaga. Many analysts and members of the media have touted the Gaels vs. Zags as one of the best, if not the best, college basketball rivalry on the West Coast, as both teams have been consistently the two top teams in the conference over the last 2 decades. Saint Mary's and Gonzaga have combined to win 24 out of the last 26 conference championship games (Gonzaga 20, Saint Mary's 4, San Diego 2).

The Gaels have made 13 NCAA tournament appearances and six National Invitation Tournaments. Saint Mary's basketball and volleyball teams play their home games at the University Credit Union Pavilion, which has a capacity of 3,500.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

Men's Rugby

The men's rugby team has also enjoyed a rise in recent years, revitalized with a new coaching staff and increasing alumni support. The Gaels finished the season ranked among the top ten college rugby teams in the country for three consecutive years. Scene from a St. The Gaels finished the 2010-11 season ranked fifth in the nation following a trip to the national semifinals. The 2011-12 season saw St. The Gaels were successful in the 2012-13 season, again posting an undefeated conference record to win the California Conference. In the 2013 spring playoffs, St. Mary's defeated Colorado in the quarterfinals and Cal Poly in the semifinals, before losing 16-14 in the national championship match to Life University.

In 2014, St. Mary's defeated powerhouses BYU and Cal during the regular season. In the 2014 D1A final, the Gaels defeated Life University 21-6 to win the Division 1-A college rugby championship, led by finals MVP Cooper Maloney, for the first national title in the program's history, and finished the season ranked as the #1 team in college rugby. In 2015, St. The Gaels have also been successful in rugby sevens. The Gaels reached the quarterfinals of the 2011 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships. St. Mary's won the 2012 West Coast 7s tournament, with a semifinal 17-12 win over favored Cal, and a win in the final over Cal Poly 35-19. The Gaels finished third at the 2012 California 7s. The Gaels participated at the 2012 USA Rugby Sevens Collegiate National Championships, defeating Texas A&M and Navy to reach the semifinals.

Iona Gaels: A MAAC Dynasty

Iona University, located in New Rochelle, New York, also fields its athletic teams under the Gaels banner. Competing in NCAA Division I, the Iona Gaels are a force in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Iona University has been competing in Division I basketball since the school's inception in 1940. Their first taste of success came with the ECAC men's basketball tournaments (essentially regional tournaments played by Division I schools that were essentially independent, with Iona being in the Metro) in 1979 and 1980, winning the two years for an autobid to the NCAA Tournament.

A History of Success

Iona holds the distinction of having the most victories of any MAAC team since the conference's founding. The Gaels have won a league-record fourteen MAAC tournament titles (1982, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023). They have appeared in the NCAA tournament in 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2023, with the first two of those appearances coming as a member of the Metropolitan Conference and in 2012 as an at-large selection out of the MAAC. The Gaels have also been to 7 NITs, in 1982, 1983, 1996, 1997, 2014, 2015 and 2022. In 2011, the Gaels made it to the final game of the CIT post-season tournament, losing at home to Santa Clara. The Gaels have appeared in 16 NCAA tournaments. Their combined record is 1-16.

As of November 19, 2025, the program has compiled an all-time overall record of 1,302-941, yielding a .581 winning percentage since 1940, highlighting consistent competitiveness across independent, conference, and postseason play. Within the MAAC, Iona has captured 13 regular-season titles and 14 tournament championships, underscoring its dominance in the league. The Gaels have achieved 23 seasons with 20 or more wins since 1978-79, including standout campaigns that advanced to multiple NCAA Tournaments.

Coaching Legends and Eras

The Iona Gaels men's basketball program began in 1940 with Arthur Loftus as its first head coach. Following Valvano's departure to North Carolina State in 1980, Pat Kennedy took over as head coach and sustained the program's momentum with a focus on disciplined execution and player development, posting a 124-60 record over six seasons from 1980 to 1986 for a .674 winning percentage. Kennedy's teams averaged more than 20 wins per season, including four 20-win campaigns, and capitalized on the founding of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in 1982 by winning multiple early titles that solidified Iona's status as a conference powerhouse. Under Kennedy, the Gaels captured the 1982 MAAC Tournament championship-the league's inaugural event-with a 66-61 overtime victory over St.

Following the departure of Jim Valvano and Pat Kennedy, Iona's program entered a rebuilding phase under head coach Gary Brokaw, who served from 1986 to 1991 and compiled a 72-74 overall record (.493 winning percentage). Brokaw was succeeded by Jerry Welsh in 1991, who guided the Gaels through 1995 with a 47-63 record (.427), including two additional NIT berths that highlighted occasional postseason viability amid sub-.500 finishes. Tim Welsh's brief but impactful stint from 1995 to 1998 produced a 70-22 record (.761), the highest modern winning percentage in program history, and earned one NCAA Tournament bid along with one MAAC tournament title in 1998. This success marked a high point of resurgence, emphasizing disciplined play and effective recruiting within the conference. Welsh departed for Providence in 1998, paving the way for Jeff Ruland, an Iona alum and former NBA player, who coached from 1998 to 2007 with a 139-135 record (.507). Kevin Willard took over in 2007, posting a 45-49 record (.479) over three seasons through 2010, maintaining competitive MAAC positioning with one NCAA bid in 2010 despite transitional difficulties. The arrival of Tim Cluess in 2010 ushered in a dominant stretch, as he amassed 199-108 (.648) over nine seasons through 2019, securing seven MAAC titles (including tournament wins in 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2018), a 2011 CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT) runner-up finish, and six NCAA appearances-highlighted by the 2016 team's upset potential as a 15-seed. Cluess's emphasis on high-tempo offense and player development yielded consistent 20-win seasons, contributing to Iona's overall tally of 14 MAAC tournament titles by 2019. His tenure ended amid a 2019-20 health-related resignation, with assistant Tra Arnold serving as interim coach for a 12-17 campaign (.414).

In March 2020, following the resignation of head coach Tim Cluess for health reasons, Iona hired Hall of Famer Rick Pitino as the new men's basketball head coach, marking his return to NCAA Division I after a suspension related to his previous tenure at Louisville. Pitino's arrival came during the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the 2020-21 season and limited the Gaels to 21 games, though they adapted quickly to secure the MAAC regular-season and tournament titles, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 15 seed. In that tournament, Iona fell 68-55 to No. 2 seed Alabama in the first round. Pitino guided Iona to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, repeating the MAAC sweep in 2022-23 with a 27-8 overall mark before departing for St. John's in April 2023. In the 2023 NCAA Tournament, the No. 13-seeded Gaels lost 87-63 to top-seeded UConn in the first round. His exit triggered significant roster turnover, with key players entering the transfer portal, setting the stage for the hiring of Tobin Anderson in March 2023. Anderson, previously head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson where he orchestrated a historic 2023 NCAA first-round upset as a No.

In March 2025, the program transitioned to new head coach Dan Geriot, a former NBA assistant, to guide its ongoing development. On March 20, 2025, Iona appointed Dan Geriot, a 37-year-old assistant with nine years of NBA experience including stints with the New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers, as its first-time head coach. Geriot, who earlier served as an assistant at Richmond from 2010-15, inherited a program emphasizing NBA pipeline development and immediately led a roster overhaul through the transfer portal, adding experienced players to bolster depth and scoring. His first season began on November 7, 2025, with a home opener victory over Hofstra 81-73 at Hynes Athletics Center.

Rivalries

The rivalry's fervor is amplified by the teams' proximity-separated by just a few miles along the Hudson River corridor-and their competition for top talent from the densely populated New York recruiting pipeline, where both programs rank among the MAAC's most historically successful in terms of overall wins. These factors contribute to heated atmospheres, with outcomes frequently influencing MAAC tournament seeding and byes.

The Iona Gaels' secondary conference rivalry within the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) centers on the Siena Saints, a perennial title contender that has captured six MAAC championships since the league's founding in 1982. Matchups with the Rider Broncs and Monmouth Hawks frequently pose road challenges for Iona during MAAC play, influencing tournament seeding and regular-season positioning. In the 2024-25 season, for example, the Gaels split their series with Rider, suffering a 74-71 road loss on February 14 before securing a 73-67 home victory on January 23.

NCAA Tournament History

The Iona Gaels men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Division I tournament 16 times, spanning from 1979 to 2023, with no qualification for the 2024-25 event. With 15 first-round exits defining their history, the Gaels have advanced beyond the opening round only once, in 1980, where they fell in the second round to eventual runner-up Georgetown (74-71). Iona's seeding has ranged from a high of No. 6 (1980) to a low of No. 16 (2019), reflecting their status as a perennial underdog against power-conference foes. Notable moments include the 1979 debut as an No. 8 seed, ending in a 73-69 upset loss to No. 9 Penn; the 2016 clash as a No. 13 seed against No. 3 Iowa State (81-59 loss); the 2021 matchup as a No. 15 seed versus No. 2 Alabama (68-55 loss) under Rick Pitino; and the 2023 first-round defeat as a No. One of the most dramatic games occurred in the 2012 First Four, where No. 14 Iona blew a 25-point halftime lead (49-24) to lose 78-72 against No. 14 BYU, allowing the Cougars to stage the largest comeback in NCAA tournament history.

NIT and CIT Appearances

The Iona Gaels men's basketball program has participated in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) seven times, achieving an overall record of 1-7 across those appearances. The Gaels' lone NIT victory occurred in 1983 under coach Pat Kennedy, marking the first NIT win by a MAAC team. In the first round, Iona defeated St. Bonaventure 90-76 at home before falling in the second round to Nebraska 73-85 on the road. In other appearances, Iona has struggled with first-round exits. The 1982 tournament under Kennedy ended in a 51-55 loss to Rutgers in the opening round. More recent NIT participations under coach Tim Cluess included narrow first-round losses: 88-89 at Louisiana Tech in 2014 and 75-88 at Rhode Island in 2015. In 2022, under Rick Pitino, Iona fell 74-79 at Florida in the first round, capping a season that featured an upset win over then-No. 10 Alabama earlier in the year.

The Iona Gaels men's basketball program also appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Iona opened the tournament with an 85-77 road win over Valparaiso in the first round on March 16, where junior forward Mike Glover recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds in a double-double performance. The Gaels then hosted Buffalo in the quarterfinals on March 22, securing a 78-63 victory by dominating the paint (44-28 rebounding edge) and limiting the Bulls to 36.8% field goal shooting.

Upset Victories

The Iona Gaels men's basketball program has recorded approximately six victories over AP Top 25 opponents since the 1970s, highlighting the team's occasional upset potential against higher-profile programs despite competing primarily in the mid-major Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Key upsets include the 1979-80 season under coach Jim Valvano, when Iona stunned No. 14 Texas A&M 78-52 on November 30 in a neutral-site Great Alaska Shootout game, followed by a 77-60 rout of No. 2 Louisville on February 21 at Madison Square Garden, propelled by Jeff Ruland's dominant 26-point, 20-rebound performance. The arrival of Rick Pitino in 2020 revitalized Iona's upset pedigree, culminating in a landmark 72-68 neutral-site victory over No. 10 Alabama.

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