Steve Masiello, the former head basketball coach of the Jaspers for three seasons, will be automatically reinstated to Manhattan College upon receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentuck, which was in jeopardy for non-completion of the course.
Masiello's job was at risk since March after he accepted a coaching job at University of South Florida on a $5M contract replacing Stan Heath. A background check revealed that the 36-year-old coach never completed the degree at Kentucky that resulted in the rescission of contract. Masiello's resume claimed that he was a 2000 Kentucky graduate, when in reality he never completed the course.
"Through the verification process it was determined the candidate's credentials could not be substantiated and therefore he did not meet the requirements for the position," the USF said, ESPN reports.
After an internal investigation at the Manhattan College, the authorities decided to permit Masiello to return to campus.
"After an extensive review of the situation and extenuating circumstances, we determined that Mr. Masiello executed poor judgment but did not intentionally misrepresent himself in applying to the College," Manhattan president Brennan O'Donnell said in a statement. "Our policy was always that the coach must have at least a four-year undergraduate degree."
O'Donnell further said that Masiello couldn't attend the summer courses after graduation. The president is confident that the coach will finish the degree (10 credits short) by this summer and resume his duties with Jaspers.
Until he completes his degree, Masiello will be placed on unpaid administrative leave and associate head coach Matt Grady will be in charge of the program.
Masiello said that Manhattan College trusted him during this process and that he will work hard to maintain that trust. The coach also said that he was lucky to be reinstated as the men's head basketball coach.
"I am extremely grateful and humbled by the opportunity to continue as the head men's basketball coach at Manhattan College," Masiello said. "I made a mistake that could have cost me my job.
Masiello's coaching career began at Tulane University (2000) and he served as an assistant at Manhattan (2001 to 2005) and University of Louisville (2005 to 2011) before accepting the head coaching job at Manhattan April 2011.
