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 judgment 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.

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