Rod Strickland’s Journey to March Madness with LIU

Sitting at the end of the fourth row of a slight lecture hall in Long Island University’s Health Sciences Center, the Northeast Conference coach of the year waited along with his team to find out whom, when and where the Sharks would be playing in the NCAA Tournament. LIU’s name appeared at the top of the West Region bracket, paired with No. 1 Arizona.

From NBA Star to College Coach

Rod Strickland, a former NBA player with 17 seasons under his belt, is now leading the Long Island University (LIU) Sharks in the NCAA Tournament. The journey to this point has been a fulfilling one for the 59-year-old, who embraced the opportunity to lead a team to a place they’d never been before.

A Unique Coaching Path

Strickland’s path to coaching was unconventional. After a successful playing career, he spent time as an NBA G League executive and as an assistant coach under John Calipari at Memphis and Kentucky. His previous coaching experience was limited to a four-year stint as an assistant with South Florida from 2014 to 2017. Despite this, he took over at LIU four seasons ago as a first-time head coach, embracing the challenge at a program with a modest athletics budget of about $17 million.

Building a Program at LIU

Strickland’s arrival at LIU marked a turning point for the program. He inherited a team that had struggled in recent years, going 3-26 in his first season and 7-22 in his second. However, things began to turn around last year, with the Sharks finishing 17-16 and reaching the NEC tournament semifinals. This season, LIU achieved a 15-3 record in conference play and won the NEC tournament title, earning them a spot in March Madness.

Players’ Perspective

Players like Greg Gordon initially weren’t familiar with Strickland’s NBA background. After learning about his playing days, Gordon realized Strickland was “legit.” Jamal Fuller, the Sharks’ leading scorer, noted that Strickland rarely discusses his NBA career, focusing instead on the present and the work needed to succeed.

Calipari’s Support

John Calipari played a key role in Strickland’s transition to coaching, offering him a position at Memphis after Strickland helped him with a personal matter. Calipari recognized Strickland’s feel for the game and his ability to connect with players, describing it as “off the charts.” Strickland later joined Calipari at Kentucky in a similar role.

Facing Arizona in the First Round

LIU’s first-round matchup in the NCAA Tournament is against No. 1 seed Arizona. Despite the challenge, Strickland expressed gratitude for the opportunity and the journey that led him to this point.