St. John's Red Storm
Encyclopedia
The St. John's Red Storm is the nickname used for the 16 varsity athletic programs of St. John's University. St. John's 16 NCAA Division I teams compete in the Big East Conference, with the exception of the fencing and lacrosse teams, which compete in the ECAC. The athletic program fields sixteen intercollegiate teams: basketball, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, golf, and fencing for men and basketball, soccer, softball, volleyball, tennis, track and field, cross country, golf, and fencing for women. In 2002, the university eliminated five men's athletic teams and one women's team in order to comply with Title IX
rules prohibiting activities that receive federal assistance from discriminating on the basis of gender. Until 1994, the university's nickname was the St. John's Redmen, which referenced the red uniforms worn by its teams in competition. The name was interpreted as a Native American reference in the 1960s, and the University did have a Mascot (adorned in Native American dress), which eventually led to the teams name change to the Red Storm. The change happened at a time when there was mounting pressure on colleges and universities to adopt names more sensitive to Native American culture. The Redmen name still remains popular among fans, however, as does "Johnnies". On September 18, 2009 the new mascot, which was voted on by students, was revealed; Johnny Thunderbird.
, North Carolina
, Kansas
, Duke
, and St. John's, St. John's is the only team not to win an NCAA championship for basketball, and currently holds the NCAA Division I record for most NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
appearances without a championship. The Red Storm play most of their home games at Madison Square Garden
,"The World's Most Famous Arena", while their early non-conference games are held at Carnesecca Arena
on the St. John's campus in Queens. St. John's University holds the second best winning percentage for a New York City school in the NCAA basketball tournament (second to City College of New York
- which won the 1950 NCAA Div 1 Championship) St. John's has the most NIT
appearances with 27, the most championship wins with 6, although they were stripped of one due to an NCAA infraction. St. John's also holds a Helms Athletic Foundation
Championship. In 2008, St. John's celebrated its 100th year of college basketball.
On February 21, 2011 the men's basketball team was voted into the top 25 in the AP and ESPN Coaches poll. This was the first time the team had been ranked since the end of the season in 2000.
On September 19, 2011, three recruits from St. John' s 2011 class were ruled ineligible for the fall semester. The players will attempt to regain their eligibility in the spring.
. The team played against several Vietnam Football Federation
squads as well as participating in community service.
. Expressing concern about quality of life issues and the spending of public money for a private religious institution, surrounding neighborhood civic groups and local politicians protested the plan. In order to placate their concerns, however, the Mets offered to open it up to the communities for local high school games and youth programs. This stadium was built despite large protests by community residents as well as State Senator
Frank Padavan (while also using city financing) The Red Storm played the first ever game at the Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field on March 29, 2009.
and Ivan Lee
. In 2001, St. John's won the NCAA Fencing Championship. The team has ranked in the top five each of the last 10 years, and finished 2nd in the NCAA during 1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, and 2010 seasons. In addition to team accolades, St. John's has won thirteen NCAA Individual National Championship titles.
Erik Barkley,2001
Lamont Hamilton,2006
Eugene Lawrence,2008
Liam Biesty,2008
Anthony Mason Jr.,2008
D.J. Kennedy 2011
,
Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
rules prohibiting activities that receive federal assistance from discriminating on the basis of gender. Until 1994, the university's nickname was the St. John's Redmen, which referenced the red uniforms worn by its teams in competition. The name was interpreted as a Native American reference in the 1960s, and the University did have a Mascot (adorned in Native American dress), which eventually led to the teams name change to the Red Storm. The change happened at a time when there was mounting pressure on colleges and universities to adopt names more sensitive to Native American culture. The Redmen name still remains popular among fans, however, as does "Johnnies". On September 18, 2009 the new mascot, which was voted on by students, was revealed; Johnny Thunderbird.
Basketball
St. John's is the 7th most winningest program in college basketball history (1686 wins), St. John's boasts the 7th-most NCAA tournament appearances (27), two Wooden National Player of the Year Award Winners, 11 consensus All-Americans, 6 members of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and has sent 59 players to the NBA. However, of the top 5 teams, KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
, North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, and St. John's, St. John's is the only team not to win an NCAA championship for basketball, and currently holds the NCAA Division I record for most NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances without a championship. The Red Storm play most of their home games at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
,"The World's Most Famous Arena", while their early non-conference games are held at Carnesecca Arena
Carnesecca Arena
Carnesecca Arena is a 5,602-seat multi-purpose arena in Queens County, New York, USA. It was built in 1961 and renamed in honor of Hall of Fame Coach Lou Carnesecca on November 23, 2004. It is the exclusive home to the St...
on the St. John's campus in Queens. St. John's University holds the second best winning percentage for a New York City school in the NCAA basketball tournament (second to City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
- which won the 1950 NCAA Div 1 Championship) St. John's has the most NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
appearances with 27, the most championship wins with 6, although they were stripped of one due to an NCAA infraction. St. John's also holds a Helms Athletic Foundation
Helms Athletic Foundation
The Helms Athletic Foundation was an athletic foundation based in Los Angeles, founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms. It put together a panel of experts to select National Champion teams and make All-America team selections in a number of college sports including football and basketball...
Championship. In 2008, St. John's celebrated its 100th year of college basketball.
On February 21, 2011 the men's basketball team was voted into the top 25 in the AP and ESPN Coaches poll. This was the first time the team had been ranked since the end of the season in 2000.
On September 19, 2011, three recruits from St. John' s 2011 class were ruled ineligible for the fall semester. The players will attempt to regain their eligibility in the spring.
Soccer
St. John’s won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Soccer Championship, made four appearances in the NCAA College Cup (1996, 2001, 2003 and 2008) and reached sixteen NCAA post-season tournaments, including fifteen straight from 1992 to 2006. The Red Storm also reached ten consecutive NCAA Tournament Rounds of sixteen from 1996 to 2005. Under Coach Masur, the Red Storm have also won seven Big East Tournament titles, six regular season crowns and has qualified for eighteen consecutive Big East tournaments. Their home games are hosted at Belson Stadium, a state of the art 2,168 seat stadium on the university campus, which sells out often. In 2006, the men's soccer team became the first American soccer team to be invited to play in VietnamVietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The team played against several Vietnam Football Federation
Vietnam Football Federation
The Vietnam Football Federation is the governing body of football in Vietnam. It is responsible for the Vietnam men's, women's, olympic, and other youth teams as well as national competitions....
squads as well as participating in community service.
Baseball
The St. John's baseball team has been to the College World Series six times, recorded 26 NCAA appearances, 6 Big East Championships and have sent 70 players on to professional baseball careers. Most recently, St. John's won the Big East Regular Season Title two of the last three years (2005/2007). The 3,500 seat "Ballpark at St. John's" was renamed "Jack Kaiser Stadium" in 2007 after the Hall of Fame Coach and former St. John's Athletic Director. The stadium is one of the largest college baseball stadiums in the northeast, and is a featured venue on the EA Sports MVP NCAA Baseball video game. The stadium was conceived out of a deal between the university and the Giuliani administration. The administration wanted to find a location for a single-A team that would be affiliated with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. Expressing concern about quality of life issues and the spending of public money for a private religious institution, surrounding neighborhood civic groups and local politicians protested the plan. In order to placate their concerns, however, the Mets offered to open it up to the communities for local high school games and youth programs. This stadium was built despite large protests by community residents as well as State Senator
State Senator
A state senator is a member of a state's Senate, the upper house in the bicameral legislature of 49 U.S. states, or a legislator in Nebraska's one house State Legislature.There are typically fewer state senators than there are members of a state's lower house...
Frank Padavan (while also using city financing) The Red Storm played the first ever game at the Mets' new ballpark, Citi Field on March 29, 2009.
Fencing
The St. John's fencing program has also attained national prominence including Olympians Keeth SmartKeeth Smart
Keeth Thomas Smart is a US sabre fencer who became the first American to gain the sport's #1 ranking for males. He received a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.-Early life and education:...
and Ivan Lee
Ivan Lee
Ivan Lee is a world-class American sabre fencer.-General:He was a member of the 2001 U.S...
. In 2001, St. John's won the NCAA Fencing Championship. The team has ranked in the top five each of the last 10 years, and finished 2nd in the NCAA during 1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, and 2010 seasons. In addition to team accolades, St. John's has won thirteen NCAA Individual National Championship titles.
Mascot
In spring 2009, St. John's allowed its students to vote on what the new official Red Storm mascot would be. At a soccer game in Fall 2009, members of the Athletics Department announced that a Thunderbird had received the majority of votes and would become the new mascot. After a vote, the new mascot was named Johnny Thunderbird. He can be seen at many of the school's athletic events, cheering on the Red Storm.Notable Red Storm
Omar Cook, 1999Erik Barkley,2001
Lamont Hamilton,2006
Eugene Lawrence,2008
Liam Biesty,2008
Anthony Mason Jr.,2008
D.J. Kennedy 2011
,
- Metta World Peace (born 1979), NBA basketball player
- Rich AuriliaRich AuriliaRichard Santo Aurilia is a former Major League Baseball player, mainly as a shortstop. He bats and throws right-handed.The 24th round pick of the Texas Rangers in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Aurilia worked in the Rangers minor league system before being traded with first baseman Desi...
(born 1971), MLB professional baseball player - Walter Berry, NBA basketball player
- Lou CarneseccaLou CarneseccaLuigi P. "Lou" Carnesecca is a retired American college basketball coach at St. John's University. He coached the men's basketball program to 526 wins and 200 losses over 24 seasons...
, Hall of Fame basketball coach - Mike FrancesaMike FrancesaMichael Patrick "Mike" Francesa, Jr. is an American radio talk show host and television commentator. He is primarily known in his former role co-hosting the popular Mike and the Mad Dog show on WFAN in New York City...
, sportscaster - John Franco, former baseball player who was captain for the New York MetsNew York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
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, MLS professional soccer player - Matt GroenwaldMatt GroenwaldMatt Groenwald is an American soccer player who last played defender for the Kansas City Wizards of Major League Soccer....
, MLS professional soccer player - Zendon HamiltonZendon HamiltonZendon Alphonso Hamilton is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for Polytekhnika-Halychyna Lviv in the Ukraine Super League...
, U.S. professional basketball player in Europe, former NBA player - Craig HansenCraig HansenCraig Robert Hansen is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. A closer out of St. John's University, Hansen was drafted in and quickly made his major league debut, but has since spent most of his career at the Triple-A level...
, MLB professional baseball player - Darryl HillDarryl Hill (basketball player)Daryll Hill is a former basketball player from Queens, New York.He played at Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens. He went on to play basketball at St. John's University in Jamaica, Queens. At St. John's he led the Big East in scoring for one season...
, basketball player known as "Showtime Hill" - Mark JacksonMark Jackson (basketball)Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...
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, MLS professional soccer player - Brian KennyBrian KennyBrian Kenny may refer to:*Brian Kenny , MLB Network personality and journalist*Brian Kenny , Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick*Brian Kenny , British Army General...
, ESPN sportscaster - John KresseJohn KresseJohn Kresse is a basketball coach and writer.He is former head coach of the College of Charleston Cougars and assistant coach with the New York Nets and St. John's University. Kresse has the 5th highest winning percentage of any Division 1 NCAA college basketball coach with 560 wins and 143 losses...
, NCAA men's basketball coach at the College of CharlestonCollege of CharlestonThe College of Charleston is a public, sea-grant and space-grant university located in historic downtown Charleston, South Carolina, United States... - Al McGuireAl McGuireAl McGuire was the head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team from 1964 to 1977. He compiled impressive numbers throughout his coaching career, resulting in his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, and was also well known for his colorful personality.-Early life:He...
, NCAA Men's basketball coach and sports commentator - Frank McGuireFrank McGuireFrank Joseph McGuire was an American athletic coach who gained his greatest renown in collegiate basketball....
, NCAA Men's basketball coach at St. John's, North and South Carolina and NBA coach for the Philadelphia Warriors - Stefani MiglioranziStefani MiglioranziStefani Miglioranzi is a Brazilian-American footballer who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Early Life and College Career:...
,MLS professional soccer player for Philadelphia Union, formally played in England for Swindon Town - Chris MullinChris Mullin (basketball)Christopher Paul Mullin is a retired American basketball player and former general manager of the NBA's Golden State Warriors. He has also been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame....
, NBA basketball player - Joe Panik, professional baseball player, 2011 1st Round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants
- Brent SanchoBrent SanchoBrent Sancho is a Trinidadian soccer player who currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in the USL First Division.-College:Sancho spent his college years playing for St...
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, NBA basketball player - Bob SheppardBob SheppardRobert Leo "Bob" Sheppard was the long-time public address announcer for numerous New York area college and professional sports teams, in particular the MLB New York Yankees , and the NFL New York Giants .Sheppard announced more than 4,500 Yankees baseball games over a period of 56 years,...
, sports announcer for the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
and New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, "Voice of the Yankees" - Keeth SmartKeeth SmartKeeth Thomas Smart is a US sabre fencer who became the first American to gain the sport's #1 ranking for males. He received a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.-Early life and education:...
, Olympic fencer, first U.S. fencer to reach #1 world ranking - Frank ViolaFrank ViolaFrank John Viola, Jr. is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Minnesota Twins , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Cincinnati Reds and Toronto Blue Jays . A three-time All-Star, he was named World Series MVP with the Twins in 1987 and won the AL Cy Young Award in 1988...
, professional baseball player - Bill WenningtonBill WenningtonWilliam Percey Wennington is a retired Canadian basketball player in the National Basketball Association who won three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. A center, he was also a member of two Canadian Olympic Basketball Teams and the 1983 World University Games team that won gold against...
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, An English soccer player who returned to play in the English Professional League after graduation. - Jayson WilliamsJayson WilliamsJayson Williams is an American former professional basketball player. Standing 6 feet, 10 inches tall, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets of the National Basketball Association. In 2010, he pled guilty to assault in the shooting death of a limousine driver...
, NBA basketball player and author - Chris WingertChris WingertChris Wingert is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-College:Wingert attended St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School and played college soccer for St...
, MLS professional soccer player