In a stunning move just two weeks before the start of the college basketball season, Manhattan has fired Steve Masiello, sources told The Post.
Masiello was entering the final year of his contract and sought a contract extension, sources said. Steve Masiello is out as Manhattan‘s head coach as the two sides failed to reach agreement on a contract extension. He is expected to be replaced on an interim basis by assistant RaShawn Stores, a former Manhattan player under Masiello.
The move comes at a surprising time, with Manhattan picked to finish second in the MAAC and having the Player of the Year, Jose Perez, on its roster. Masiello coached for 11 seasons at the Bronx school, reaching a pair of NCAA Tournaments. But he failed to finish over .500 the last seven years.
This would have been Masiello’s 12th season with the Jaspers. He emerged as one of the hottest young coaches in the country during the early part of his tenure at Manhattan, leading the program to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2014 and 2015. The Jaspers haven’t finished above .500 since that last tourney appearance, however.
