Mark Schmidt Position: Head Coach Office Phone: (716) 375-2207

With his blue collar work ethic now installed in the program, second year head coach Mark Schmidt will continue his revival of St. Bonaventure basketball in 2008-09.

Schmidt took over the tradition-rich program on April 10, 2007, becoming the 19th head coach in school history.

"We are thrilled to have Mark Schmidt as our new men's basketball coach," said St. Bonaventure Director of Athletics Steve Watson. "He is a proven, successful head coach who impressed us with his attitude, desire and passion. His teams at Robert Morris were known for how hard they played as well as how they improved. Mark also has a firm understanding of what it takes to compete and win in the Atlantic 10 Conference."

Schmidt's intense personality rubbed off on everyone involved with the program in 2007-08, as St. Bonaventure was much more competitive in the ultra-talented Atlantic 10 Conference. Disguised in the team's 8-22 record were 10 losses by 10 points or less, including four by five points or less.

St. Bonaventure's senior class of Zarryon Fereti, Michael Lee and Tyler Relph flourished under just one season of Schmidt's guidance. All three posted career years on the court and experienced success of the court by graduating in May. Both Fereti and Lee worked their way into the professional ranks overseas, while Relph finished as the NCAA leader in free throw percentage.

Known for his work ethic and drive, Schmidt and his staff put in tireless hours on the recruiting trails in the offseason. The result was a six-member class that included a pair of NJCAA All-Americans. Schmidt's first full recruiting class as the leader of the Brown and White drew national recognition from Hoop Scoop and Hoopmasters.com columnist Van Coleman.

Schmidt served as the head coach at Robert Morris for six seasons prior to coming to St. Bonaventure. There, he inherited a program that had managed just a 7-22 record in the season before his arrival. Schmidt quickly turned things around, leading the Colonials to the Northeast Conference Tournament semifinals in 2004 and 2006. During his six seasons at RMU, he had an overall record of 82-90, including a 15-14 mark in 2005-06, the program's first winning season since 2000. Schmidt turned the Colonials into a year-in and year-out contender in the conference, posting a 58-52 mark in league play highlighted by four seasons of 10 or more league wins.

Schmidt coached six NEC All-Conference players at RMU, along with three All-Rookie team selections and one Conference Rookie of the Year in Jeremy Chappell in 2006. Last season, Schmidt saw his former recruit Tony Lee garner NEC Player of the Year accolades.

Prior to Robert Morris, Schmidt spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Xavier University under head coach Skip Prosser. Schmidt served as the program's top recruiter, landing future NBA players Torraye Braggs (Houston Rockets), Lionel Chalmers (Minnesota Timberwolves), James Posey (Miami Heat), Romain Sato (San Antonio Spurs) and David West (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets). With most of his coaching responsibilities centered around the post players, Schmidt helped develop West into a three-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and the National Player of the Year in 2003.

During his stay in Cincinnati, Ohio, Schmidt helped lead the Musketeers to four NCAA Tournament appearances and the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) twice. Xavier claimed its first-ever Atlantic 10 West Division title in 1996-97 and both the West Division and tournament championships in 1997-98. In 1997, Xavier defeated Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and finished the season with the school's highest Associated Press ranking at No. 13. The Musketeers made it to the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden in 1999, finishing third, the school's best finish since 1958.

Schmidt served as an assistant under Prosser at Loyola College during the 1993-94 season. He helped guide the Greyhounds to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament title and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament berth.

From 1991-93, Schmidt was an assistant at Penn State University under Bruce Parkhill. The Nittany Lions went 21-8 in 1992 and appeared in the NIT. Schmidt's coaching career began with a two-year stint as an assistant at St. Michael's College in Vermont.

Schmidt played four seasons at Boston College, where he received his bachelor's degree in business administration and management with a concentration in marketing. In his freshman season under head coach Tom Davis, the Eagles went 22-10 and made the NCAA Elite Eight. Schmidt played his final three years under the guidance of head coach Gary Williams. Boston College advanced to the NIT in 1984 and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen the other two years.

A native of North Attleboro, Mass., Schmidt and his wife Anita have three sons, Nicholas (13), Derek (11) and Michael (8).

PLAYING CAREER

Bishop Feehan (1977-81)