Marist University Athletics

John Dunne was hired as the 12^th head coach in Marist men’s basketball program history on April 3, 2018. The 2025-26 season marks his eighth with the Red Foxes. Dunne was awarded multi-year extensions at Marist in 2022 and 2025.

A well-respected coach for his work at the conference, regional, and national levels, Dunne arrived at Marist after a successful 12-year tenure as head coach at Saint Peter’s University.

Dunne is the first coach in MAAC history to reach the conference championship game as a #11 seed, and the first to reach the MAAC semifinals as a #9 seed. He won the MAAC title as a #4 seed at Saint Peter's in 2011, and reached the conference semifinals as a #7 seed in 2015. Dunne has won more games (eight) as a lower seed in the MAAC Championship than any coach in conference history, and is one of two coaches to lead two teams to the MAAC championship game.
 

At Marist

• Led Marist to its fifth 20-win season in program history in the 2024-25 season with 20, the program's highest total in 18 years. The Red Foxes were ranked #25 in the Feb. 3 College Insider Mid-Major Poll, their first ranking in the poll in program history. Marist's nine-game winning streak from Dec. 6 through Jan. 16 was its longest in 18 years, and was tied for the fourth-longest winning streak in the nation at that time. Josh Pascarelli became the first Red Fox to be named First Team All-MAAC in 18 years.
• In the 2023-24 season, led Marist to its highest win total (18) in 16 years, and its best seed in the MAAC championship (#3) in 17 years. Road win total (8) was also the program's best in 17 years.
• Led Marist to its first berth in the MAAC Championship final in program history in the 2022-23 season. The Red Foxes won three games in the conference tournament to reach the championship game.
• Coached Patrick Gardner in the 2022-23 season. Gardner ranked in the MAAC top 10 in five statistical categories. He then appeared in NBA Summer League with the Miami Heat and later signed a contract with the Brooklyn Nets.Gardner also has played with Egypt's national team.
• Led the Red Foxes to a six-game winning streak in 2021-22, the program's longest streak in 15 years. 
• In 2020-21, he led the Red Foxes to their first winning season in 13 years, and best MAAC finish in 14 years. 
• In his first season in 2018-19, Dunne led the Red Foxes to their highest win total in five years, their longest winning streak in four years, and their highest total of road wins in 11 years.
• Player Accolades
  • Met Basketball Writers Association Rookie of the Year (1) - Jao Ituka, 2021-22
  • MAAC Rookie of the Year (1) - Jao Ituka, 2021-22
  • MAAC Sixth Man of the Year (1) - Ryan Funk, 2018-19
  • First Team All-MAAC (1) - Josh Pascarelli, 2024-25
  • Second Team All-MAAC (3) - Max Allen II, 2023-24; Patrick Gardner, 2022-23; Jao Ituka, 2021-22
  • Third Team All-MAAC (3) - Elijah Lewis, 2024-25; Ricardo Wright, 2021-22; Brian Parker, 2018-19
  • MAAC All-Rookie Team (6) - Josh Pascarelli, 2023-24; Isaiah Brickner, 2022-23; Jao Ituka, 2021-22; Hakim Byrd, 2020-21; Ricardo Wright, 2020-21; Tyler Sagl, 2019-20
  • MAAC All-Championship Team (3) - Jadin Collins, 2023-24; Patrick Gardner, 2022-23; Isaiah Brickner, 2022-23
  • First Team NABC All-District (2) - Josh Pascarelli, 2024-25; Patrick Gardner, 2022-23
  • Second Team All-Met Basketball Writers Association (2) - Josh Pascarelli, 2024-25; Patrick Gardner, 2022-23
  • 16 NABC Honors Court selections
  • Two NABC Team Academic Excellence awards
  • 24 MAAC All-Academic Team selections
  • Jordan Jones was of 10 men's basketball players nationwide to be named to the NABC Community Assist Team, 2021-22.   

Championships

• 2017 CollegeInsder.com postseason tournament (CIT). Came from behind in three road victories, including championship game at Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
• 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament. Won as #4 seed, with victories over #1 Fairfield on its home court in semifinals and #2 Iona in championship game.

Committees, Affiliations, Accolades

• 2011, 2021, 2024, and 2025 finalist for Skip Prosser Award (established in 2008 to honor those who achieve success on the basketball court & display moral integrity off of it).
• 2025 finalist for the Hugh Durham Award (presented to top mid-major coach in the country).
• NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee (2010-13; chair, 2012-13).
• NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee (2013-16).
• MAAC Men’s Basketball Committee (2011-present).
• NABC (1996-present).
• Active in Coaches vs. Cancer.

At Saint Peter's

• 2017-18: Became the first #9 seed to reach MAAC Championship semifinal round with victory over top-seeded Rider.
• 2016-17: Won CIT championship, the program’s first national postseason championship. Won 23 games, second-highest total in school history. Set program record with 14 MAAC wins (went 14-6 in conference, finished second). Had program’s first MAAC Defensive Player of the Year (Chazz Patterson), two All-MAAC selections (Quadir Welton, First Team; Trevis Wyche, Second Team), and CIT MVP (Welton). Went 18-6 after New Year’s Day, including winning 11 out of 12 to close the season.
• Went 26-14 in MAAC play, 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons.
• Won six MAAC Tournament games and had three semifinal appearances from 2015 to 2018.
• 2010-11: Won program’s first MAAC championship since 1995, went 20-11 (program’s first 20-win season in 20 years).
• Won 11 MAAC games in both 2009-10 and 2010-11, which had not happened at Saint Peter’s since 1989.
• Increased the program’s win total in each of his first five seasons.
• Defensive success: Ranked second in NCAA in defensive field goal percentage in both 2009-10 (.377) and 2010-11 (.376). Finished 18^th in NCAA in defensive efficiency in 2016-17, becoming one of just 11 teams since 2001-02 to finish in the nation’s top 75 in all four factors of defensive efficiency.
• Won five MAAC Tournament games as the lower-seeded team (two in 2011, one in 2015, two in 2017). Two of these victories occurred in the quarterfinals, one in the semifinals, and one in the championship game.
• Power conference success: Went 3-3 vs. Rutgers (Big Ten), recorded victories against Alabama (SEC) and Seton Hall (Big East).
• Coached nine 1,000-point scorers, 13 All-MAAC selections, three All-Rookie Team selections, four MAAC All-Tournament Team selections (including one MVP), one MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, and six MAAC All-Academic Team selections.

Off The Court

• Graduated 100 percent of his recruits who completed their eligibility at Saint Peter’s.
• Players & coaches donated their time to local soup kitchens in Elizabeth, NJ, and elementary schools in Jersey City, NJ.
• Core philosophy: “Our philosophy is to develop our student-athletes not only as basketball players, but as active leaders in the community. We are committed to developing the character of each individual in our program to prepare them for life after basketball.”

Assistant Coach

• Seton Hall University (2001-06). Helped Pirates reach NCAA Tournament twice and Postseason NIT once.
• Siena College (1999-2001). Won MAAC regular-season title both seasons, advanced to Postseason NIT Second Round in 2000, had 44-20 overall record.
• Manhattan College (1998-99). Worked under head coach John Leonard.
• Adelphi University (1996-98). Worked under current Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford; team posted record of 43-17 in two seasons.
• Wilkes University (1992-94, 1995-96). Had 28-2 record and trip to Division III Elite Eight in 1995-96.
• Western Michigan University (1994-95). First Division I job, worked under head coach Bob Donewald.

Education/Playing Career

• Earned Master’s degree in Sport Management from East Stroudsburg University (1996).
• Earned Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Ithaca College (1992). Was a four-year men’s basketball letterwinner. Graduated as the program’s all-time leader in steals and third in assists (currently sits fourth in steals, fifth in assists). His 60 steals as a senior rank second in a single season.
• Graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School (1988). Played for legendary head coach Jack Curran.

Personal

• Native of Queens, NY.
• Born June 11, 1970.
• Wife, Dr. Marlene Dunne, is Talent Assessment Leader at SHL. Has two children, Chloe and Brady.