|
 Tom
O'Shea, who completed his eighth year as the head coach of the Purple Knights in 2004-05, has established himself as one of the premier coaches in the
storied history of Saint Michael's College basketball.
Since taking the reins of the program on March 24, 1997, O'Shea has guided
the Purple Knights to a 124-106 record, two NCAA Tournament appearances, an
ECAC Championship, two Northeast-10 titles, and the first three-straight
20-win seasons in the history of the program. O’Shea has also coached an
NE-10 Player of the Year and All-American (Todd Roberts), an NE-10
Defensive Player of the Year (Brian Miles), and two NE-10 Freshmen of the
Year (Jared Chandler and Mike Keating).
Despite missing the postseason each of the last three years, O’Shea led
Saint Michael’s in undoubtedly one of the best seasons in the program’s
history in 2000-01. O’Shea guided a heavily talented Purple Knights squad
to a school-record 27-4 mark, the Northeast-10 Conference Regular Season
and Tournament titles, and the NCAA Division II “Sweet 16” Tournament,
where they fell to the only undefeated team in the country, Adelphi
University.
In 1999-00, his team posted a 20-9 record and won the ECAC Division II
Championship. The Purple Knights finished one game out of first place in
the Northeast-10 Conference.
O'Shea guided the Purple Knights to a then-school record 25 wins and an
appearance in the NCAA Regional Semifinals in 1998-99. He was named NE-10
Coach of the Year, and the New England Coach of the Year by the New
England College Basketball Coaches Association. O’Shea led the Purple
Knights to a 16-13 record and an ECAC Tournament appearance in his first
season. His two-year record of 41-22 is the best record for any SMC mentor
in his first two seasons as men's basketball coach.
O’Shea served as an assistant to Tom Crowley at Saint Michael's for seven
seasons before being named to the head coaching position. As an assistant,
he was responsible for all aspects of the program, including on-floor
coaching, recruiting and scouting opponents.
“I have found Tom O’Shea to be a true educator who brings desirable
balance to the program,” stated President Marc A. vanderHeyden during the
1997 press conference announcing O’Shea’s appointment. “Tom has been
responsible for recruiting scholar-athletes for the team already, and
clearly his good judgement in these matters is validated by a perfect
record of graduation for our men’s basketball team.”
O’Shea came to Saint Michael’s in 1989 after spending one season as an
assistant under Bob Tipson at neighboring Champlain College, formerly a
junior college national power.
He is a 1986 graduate of the University of Vermont and earned his master’s
degree in education from his alma mater in 1990. While at Vermont, he
played under both Bill Whitmore and current Catamount head coach Tom
Brennan. He also spent one season as a graduate assistant under Brennan.
A hard-working guard, he was awarded the Sunderland Award as Vermont's
outstanding senior-athlete, and was also honored as the first recipient of
the Tom O’Shea Award, which is given annually to a Vermont player who
exhibits the strongest commitment and dedication to the Catamount program.
Click here
to email Coach O'Shea.
 Joe
Krupinski completed his fourth season on the Saint
Michael’s men’s basketball staff in 2004-05. He deals with all aspects of the
Division II program, including recruiting, film exchange and on-the-floor
coaching.
Krupinski joined the Purple Knight program after a two-year stint at
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., where he was the top
assistant for the Engineers’ program. He helped guide RPI to the ECAC
Division III Semifinals and the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association
finals in 2000-01.
Prior to his arrival at RPI, Krupinski was an assistant coach at his alma
mater, Springfield College, from 1997-99. He was involved with the
recruitment of student-athletes, on-the-floor coaching and was the team’s
liaison with both Admissions and the sports information office.
While at Springfield, Krupinski helped guide the Pride to a 26-2 record
and a No. 5 national ranking in the 1997-98 season, both marks tops in
program history. The following season, Springfield compiled a 19-8 record,
finishing second in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference
(NEWMAC) Tournament. Krupinski also recruited the first two Rookies of the
Year in the newly-created NEWMAC.
“I’m pleased that Joe is joining our coaching staff,” said Head Coach Tom
O’Shea prior to Krupinski’s arrival. “He has been an extremely active and
successful recruiter in the northeast while coaching at Springfield
College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has been associated with
successful programs throughout his coaching career, and I am looking
forward to working with him.”
At Springfield, he earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management in 1997
and went on to receive his master’s degree in Education in 1999.
Click
here to email Coach Krupinski. |
