Photo courtesy of gobonnies.com
BY: SEAN WALLACE; SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
After St. Bonaventure University’s regular-season finale with Davidson College on Saturday at the Reilly Center, head coach Mark Schmidt announced he will retire following the conclusion of the season after 19 years with the program.
“I could not have asked for a better 19 years,” said Schmidt. “You can’t put it into words. You have to see it, and when you see it, you will believe it. That’s what Bonaventure is, and that’s what Bonaventure has been to me.”
Schmidt retires as the winningest coach in program history with 339 wins, three NCAA Tournament appearances, three NIT appearances, two Atlantic 10 regular-season titles and two tournament titles. He earned A-10 Coach of the Year honors in 2016 and 2021, and he recorded 20 or more wins in seven seasons, including three of his last five.
“Mark is one of the most consequential figures in the history of St. Bonaventure and leaves a lasting impact on our program and our university,” said Bob Beretta, vice president and director of athletics. “Mark will forever be viewed as one of the most prominent individuals in the history of St. Bonaventure basketball. The legacy he leaves is simply astounding.”
Jon Rothstein, a college basketball insider for CBS Sports, reported that Bonaventure “plans to pay its next head coach significantly less than it was paying Mark Schmidt in an effort to put more resources into the roster.”
Dan Wetzel, a senior writer for ESPN, also weighed in on what could come next for the program.
“Mark did a great job at St. Bonaventure for many years,” said Wetzel. “The new trend for schools like Bonaventure will be spending less on coaches, charter flights and facilities and more on players. The sport has changed, and the priorities are following. The pool of really good coaches is greater than the jobs available, so schools can save there. The pool of really good players is not limitless, so schools should spend there. No one can win without talent. Recruiting ties matter less. Money, system and playing time matter more.”
No. 13 Bonaventure (15-16, 4-14 A-10) will face No. 12 La Salle University (9-22, 5-13 A-10) in the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh.
A national search for Schmidt’s successor is underway.
