Ithaca College Men's Basketball

The Ithaca College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics named Mike McSloy as the 11th head coach of the men’s basketball program on June 17, 2025. McSloy, who brings a wealth of experience at the Division III level, takes over a program that went 19-10 in 2024-25 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III Championship after claiming the second Liberty League title in five seasons. McSloy joins Ithaca after a successful three-year stint at Drew University, where he put together a 57-22 overall record (.722). In 2024-2025, he helped guide Drew University to the best season in program history in which the Rangers won the Landmark Conference title and earned the program’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  McSloy was honored as both the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division III District 5 Coach of the Year. The team finished 24-4, setting the program record for victories, and went 18-0 in the Landmark Conference, becoming the first men’s basketball team in conference history to go undefeated for an entire regular season. That season his team also broke the school record for longest winning streak (16 games) and was ranked in the D3Hoops.com Top 25 for the first time in school history, reaching a national ranking as high as No. 16. McSloy’s teams have made their mark as fast-paced and prolific offensive teams and in 2024-2025, Drew University finished fourth in Division III in 3-pointers made per game (12.2), and seventh in points per game (89.4). That same season the team set numerous school records for 3-pointers made (342), assists (499) and steals (284). The 2023-2024 team finished with a record of 20-6 and made an appearance in the Landmark Conference Semi-Finals. During McSloy’s time at Drew University, six Rangers captured All-Landmark Conference honors, including three who landed first team accolades. In addition, he coached three players to All-Met recognition and one member to the NABC All-District team. The Rangers received back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards in the Landmark Conference under McSloy’s watch. Prior to Drew University, McSloy was the head coach at St. Joseph’s University – Long Island for three seasons (2019-2022). In 2021-2022 the Golden Eagles posted a record of 15-9, the program’s best record in seven years and earned the squad’s first Skyline Conference playoff berth in five seasons. In addition, he guided the Golden Eagles to a win over the highest nationally ranked opponent in team history when they defeated No.15 Yeshiva University. McSloy also coached one student-athlete to First-Team All-Skyline Conference and Third-Team D3Hoops.com All-Regional honors while another was named both the Skyline Conference and the D3hoops.com Region 3 Rookie of the Year. That season culminated in McSloy being honored as the Skyline Conference Co-Coach of the Year. Additionally, McSloy has held assistant coach positions at Gettysburg College (2018-2019), New York University (2016-2018), Vassar College (2015-2016), Connecticut College (2013-2015), and SUNY Maritime College (2012-2013). The Kings Park, N.Y. native graduated from Maritime College in 2013, with a degree in International Trade and Transportation. In two seasons as a student-athlete at Maritime, McSloy started and played in all 50 games. His senior season along with being named team captain, he averaged 21 points per game which was good for 25th in the nation on his way to being named All-Skyline Conference Second Team. McSloy also played two seasons at SUNY Oswego.

Mike Sasso was hired as the men's basketball program's next assistant coach for the upcoming 2024-25 season on June 17. In his first year with the program, Sasso helped the Bombers to their first Liberty League title in five seasons. IC was selected to finish sixth in the preseason poll and ran through the Liberty League Tournament with wins over St. Lawrence (62-42) and RPI (72-67). The Bombers would then top Stockton in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championship, 80-69, before falling to No. 19 WPI, 79-71, in the second round. The Bombers rattled off six straight wins spanning the end of February into early March, playing their best basketball when it mattered most. IC finished with 19 total wins on the season, the most in Coach Farid’s era. Coach Farid went on to win All-Region 3 Coach of the Year by D3 Hoops. While on staff this year, Sasso mentored a first team and second team all-league selection, along with the Rookie of the Year in the Liberty League. Sasso’s main responsibilities are national recruiting efforts, on court player development, practice execution, opponent scouting and presenting game plans. Additionally, Sasso handles the team's social media efforts, travel logistics and meals. Prior to the season this fall, Sasso assisted in launching a Prospect Camp and coordinated a Youth Clinic in downtown Ithaca. Sasso comes to Ithaca after spending eight seasons involved with the Rutgers University men's basketball program in various roles. Most recently from 2022-2024 Sasso served as Coach Pikiell’s video coordinator. He handled all individual and team film sessions, opponent scouting, on campus recruiting visits, ticketing and organizing major fundraising events such as the Pikiell Flight Club Dinner and Meet The Team Knight. Prior, Sasso spent two years as a graduate assistant. During these two seasons, Rutgers appeared in back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in 30 years. Rutgers defeated Clemson in the 1st round of the 2020-2021 NCAA tournament which marked its first NCAA victory since the 1982-1983 season. In this role Sasso was responsible for on court player development, practice planning, video breakdown, monitoring academic progress, travel logistics and overseeing a group of 25 student managers. In 2019-2020, Rutgers broke through and recorded 20 wins for the first time since 2003-2004. The Scarlet Knights also compiled a home record of 18-1 selling out every game and defeating four ranked opponents. Sasso began his time as a Scarlet Knight as a student manager in 2016, lending a helping hand in every aspect of the program for all four years as an undergrad. He learned selflessness, industriousness, enthusiasm and availability are integral in building a program. Sasso witnessed the resurgence of Rutgers basketball unfold on a daily basis as Coach Pikiell built the program from ground up, “Pounding Nails” each day. Sasso completed his masters degree in global sports business at Rutgers in 2022 after completing his undergraduate studies in sport management. A native of Randolph, N.J., Sasso was a team captain on the Randolph High School team that finished 21-7 his senior year.