Stony Brook men's basketball coach Macarchuk to retire

Updated: March 3, 2005, 9:43 AM ET
SportsTicker

STONY BROOK, New York - Nick Macarchuk's 28-year coaching career is drawing to a close.

On Thursday, Stony Brook announced the retirement of Macarchuk, who has coached its men's basketball team for the last six seasons, effective at the end of the season.

Macarchuk, who will remain on the staff as a special assistant to athletics director Jim Fiore, has amassed 373 victories in 800 games with Canisius, Fordham and Stony Brook in a coaching career that began in 1977. He has been Stony Brook's only coach since it joined Division I in 1999.

"Nick's decision to retire from coaching is a dramatic loss to the college coaching profession," Fiore said. "The unique qualities that have defined Nick's career - his desire to win, his passion for mentoring young men and most importantly his understanding that the proper role for a coach is to advance the educational mission of the university are qualities not often exhibited in our profession today."

Since taking over at Stony Brook in 1999, Macarchuk has gone 63-107, including an 11-16 mark this season. The Seawolves concluded their America East Conference slate at 6-12 and play Hartford in the conference tournament Friday.

Macarchuk went 149-128 at Canisius before joining Fordham in 1987 and guided the Rams into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in over 20 years in 1992. Seven years later, he led Fordham to a 12-15 mark in its first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference and was named the league's Coach of the Year.

"I've had a truly satisfying career and now I look forward to working with Jim in fundraising and community relations, two areas I have always enjoyed," Macarchuk said.

This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. Wire index

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