NCAA News Wire
Manhattan’s Masiello completes degree
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Manhattan coach Steve Masiello, who has been on unpaid leave by the school since April, has completed the requirements for his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky
A spokesman for Kentucky told ESPN.com that Masiello completed his coursework and will be awarded a degree in August.
It was discovered that Masiello had not earned his degree from Kentucky. Masiello had accepted the South Florida job, but a background check turned up that he hadn’t finished the requirements to earn his degree, and the offer was withdrawn..
Manhattan said it would reinstate Masiello once he completed his degree.
Masiello led the Jaspers to a 25-8 record, the NCAA tournament and a near-upset over Louisville this past season. He has a 60-39 mark in three seasons as coach.
Associate head coach Matt Grady was serving as the Jaspers’ interim head coach during Masiello’s absence.
“I am extremely grateful and humbled by the opportunity to continue as the head men’s basketball coach at Manhattan College,” Masiello said in the statement back in April. “I made a mistake that could have cost me my job at an institution I love. Details matter.
“Manhattan College has shown me a great deal of compassion and trust during this process, and I will do everything in my power to uphold that trust. I understand that I am very fortunate to have the chance to remain here at Manhattan.”
Masiello reportedly was about 10 credits short of his degree.
