Marist University Men's Basketball

John Dunne was hired as the 12th 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 18th 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.

Recognized as a trailblazer within the college basketball community as the first Division I men’s basketball assistant and associate head coach of Indian descent in NCAA history, Dalip Bhatia serves as Associate Head Coach at Marist University.  At the time of his promotion, Head Coach John Dunne stated, "Dalip has earned this promotion. He really has developed into an exceptional assistant coach. He's heavily involved in every aspect of our program. He's a tireless worker, a relentless recruiter, an excellent tactician on the court, and his loyalty is second to none. The program is fortunate to have him and I'm happy to announce that he's our new Associate Head Coach." Bhatia is in his eighth season at Marist, and second as Associate Head Coach, in the 2025-26 season. It marks his 14th season overall working on a staff led by Dunne. Bhatia has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of the Marist’s men’s basketball program. In the 2024-25 season, Marist achieved its fifth 20-win season in program history. The Red Foxes' 20 wins were the program's highest total in 18 years. Marist finished in the top three in the MAAC standings in back-to-back years during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. During the 2022-23 season, Marist made the MAAC championship game for the first time in program history. In the 2020-21 season, Bhatia helped the Red Foxes earn their first winning season in 13 years, and the program's best conference finish in 14 seasons.   In the summer of 2020, Bhatia was ranked #1 in a poll of top Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference assistants conducted by Jeff Goodman for WatchStadium.com. Bhatia's responsibilities at Marist include working with all facets of the program, as he leads the recruiting efforts along with having a key role in game planning, advance scouting, and on-the-floor coaching.  He is also in charge of the team’s non-conference schedule as well as handling all compliance related matters for the program.  Bhatia had two stints as an assistant coach for Dunne at Saint Peter’s from 2008-13, and the 2017-18 season. Bhatia was part of the Peacocks' staff when they captured the 2011 MAAC championship, and made the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995. During the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, Saint Peter’s was second in the country in defensive field goal percentage at 37.7 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively. He worked at his alma mater, Rutgers University, for three seasons from 2013-16. He served as Director of Basketball Operations from 2013-15 and was an assistant coach during the 2015-16 season. He worked under former NBA head coach Eddie Jordan. Bhatia's first collegiate coaching position came as an assistant coach at Kean University in the 2007-08 season. Bhatia earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Rutgers University – School of Business in 2005. He worked within the financial services industry at Deloitte LLP from 2005-07. During his tenure with the firm, he began his coaching career, serving as a volunteer assistant boys’ varsity coach at North Brunswick High School.

Dan Bozzelli joined John Dunne’s staff at Marist as an assistant coach in the summer of 2024. The 2025-26 season marks his second with the Red Foxes.   In Bozzelli's first season on staff in 2024-25, Marist enjoyed its fifth 20-win season in program history, and had its highest win total (20) and longest winning streak (nine) in 18 years. Prior to his arrival at Marist, Bozzelli had most recently served as head coach at SUNY Purchase for the last four seasons. After the 2020-21 season was canceled due to Covid, the Panthers increased their win total for three straight years, which included a winning season in 2023-24.   From 2018-20, Bozzelli worked in Poughkeepsie as he served as an assistant coach at Vassar College. The previous season, he was Director of Operations at Eastern Kentucky University. Bozzelli was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at DePauw University from 2015-17. He was an assistant at the University of Rochester from 2012-15. The Yellowjackets were ranked #1 in the nation in 2013, and they won a conference championship. In his three-year tenure at Nazareth College (2009-12), he helped the Golden Flyers win the 2010 Empire 8 championship, and he served as assistant compliance director for a year. His previous stops also included Rochester Institute of Technology (2007-09), Ithaca College (2006-07), and Wilmington University (2005-06).   Bozzelli has extensive camp experience, which includes time at the University of Notre Dame, Davidson College, Dickinson College, Rochester Institute of Technology, Siena College, and Hoop Group Elite.   Bozzelli is a native of Rochester, New York. He graduated from the State University of Cortland in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He was a two-year letterwinner in men’s basketball for the Red Dragons. He earned a Master’s degree in Physical Education from Ithaca. Bozzelli was a three-sport athlete at Aquinas Institute High School, where he reached the New York State Final Four in basketball, won a state championship in soccer, and also played tennis.  

Brandon Hall in his fourth season on the Marist men's basketball staff in the 2025-26 season. Hall was officially hired as the program's Director of Operations on June 27, 2022. He then served as Non-Recruiting Assistant Coach in the 2023-24 season, and was promoted to the third assistant in the summer of 2024. As an assistant coach in the 2023-25 seasons, Hall helped the Red Foxes with 38 games, marking the program's best two-year stretch in 17 years. He helped mentor guard Josh Pascarelli, who was the first Red Fox to earn a First Team All-MAAC selection in 18 years. Thanks to Hall's tutelage, the Red Foxes earned a berth in the MAAC Championship final for the first time in program history in the 2022-23 season, as Marist won three games in the conference tournament. Part of his responsibilities included coordinating logistical efforts for the Marist's appearance in the London Showcase, the program's second overseas trip in its history. Hall played collegiately at Saint Peter’s from 2008-12 while John Dunne was the Peacocks’ head coach. He appeared in 120 career games, was part of the Saint Peter’s 2011 MAAC championship team, and served as team captain as a senior when he ranked ninth in the NCAA in KenPom steal percentage (4.91).   Hall led Colonia High School to a 17-10 record as head coach in the 2017-18 season. This included an appearance in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament final and a trip to the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 2, Group III Tournament semifinal after an upset quarterfinal win over top-seeded Rahway. Hall served as a graduate assistant at Seton Hall of the Big East Conference from 2018-21 and helped the Pirates reach the 2019 NCAA Tournament. He most recently worked as an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson in the 2021-22 season.