Shaheen Holloway of Seton Hall awarded Big East Coach of the Year

Shaheen Holloway Named Big East Coach of the Year

The consensus among Big East coaches is clear: Shaheen Holloway has had an exceptional season.

On Wednesday, he received the honor of Coach of the Year, a recognition that came after he successfully guided Seton Hall to a fourth-place finish. Interestingly, back in October, many expected the Pirates to finish last.

“This isn’t just for me; it’s a prize for the whole Seton Hall community,” Holloway expressed. “Last year was quite rough. This year, the coaching staff, managers, and players have invested so much time, believing in my vision and showing patience. I know I can be demanding. A big thank you to the Seton Hall leaders for trusting in me.”

Given the low expectations at the start of the season and a mostly new roster, Seton Hall’s performance (20-11) has been quite impressive, although they still need to clinch the Big East Tournament to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Seton Hall has made a remarkable recovery from a disappointing previous season where they managed only seven wins over their games against league giants St. John’s and Connecticut.

Holloway remarked, “Honestly, it feels surreal to be here today.” He shares this award with notable Seton Hall coaches like Kevin Willard (2016), Louis Orr (2003), and P.J. Carlesimo (1988-89). “It’s really special for me as both a player and a coach in this league to be recognized like this. Being chosen by my peers is humbling, especially in this competitive environment.”

Seton Hall, seeded fourth, is set to face fifth-seeded Creighton in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

In other news, Nigel James Jr. of Marquette University was named Big East Newcomer of the Year, beating out competitors like Akaden Lewis from Villanova and Braylon Mullins from the University of Connecticut.

James, hailing from Huntington, Long Island, ranked as the second-highest scorer in Big East play, averaging 19.3 points per game. This average marks the highest for a freshman since Carmelo Anthony scored 21.4 points with Syracuse back in the 2002-03 season.

After the announcement, James shared his plans to return for his second season at Marquette, stating, “I want to finish my career at Marquette. That was never in question for me.”