Murray State University Athletics
Savino hired as men's assistant
9/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Murray State men's basketball head coach Mick Cronin announced the hiring of Darren Savino as an assistant coach with the Racer program. Savino comes to Murray State from Quinnipiac, where he served the last two seasons as an assistant coach in charge of recruiting, scouting and strength and conditioning.
Before that, he served three years at New Mexico, where he worked with recruiting, scouting and individual instruction, assisting with strength and conditioning and as the academic liaison. He was also the camp director and supervisor of the 6th Man Club at UNM.
Prior to that, he worked at East Carolina, where was in charge of scouting, recruiting and individual instruction, assisting with the strength and conditioning program and serving as the academic liaison. He served a similar role for two years at St. John's and for one season at Seton Hall.
Savino is a 1994 graduate from Jersey City State College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration with a specialization in sports management.
Savino, 33, has steadily climbed the coaching ladder.
"Two things made me want to come here," Savino said. "Mick Cronin and a winning program. The Racers are always the top team in the OVC, and I want to be with a winner. I also want to work with a winning coach, and there is no young coach out there with more going for him than Mick."
Cronin, who enters his second season with Murray State, said he is excited to have Savino join the Racers.
"Darren is a driven young man and this job demands that," Cronin said. "He is going to help our players develop individually, and he's going to help us recruit the northeastern part of the country. I'm excited about having him on our staff."
Recruiting is the lifeblood of any program. Savino looks forward to promoting the Racers program.
"Of course, we've got to be selective and smart in our recruiting, but I do have a group of good contacts in the Northeast, and that will help us," Savino said.
Savino is also looking forward to working with one of the best recruiters in the country in Mick Cronin.
"No one has more contacts than Mick," Savino said. "He is one of the most well-connected coaches in college basketball, and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does it."
Savino played prep basketball for legendary coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony's High School in his native Jersey City, N.J. It was in Savino's senior season in 1987 that St. Anthony's was named national champion by USA Today. Savino played college basketball at Weber College in Florida, then at Jersey City State.
