Speedy Claxton (left) during his playing days for Hofstra versus Oklahoma State in the NCAA ... [+]
Hofstra is turning to a legend to replace a legend.
Former star and current assistant coach Craig “Speedy” Claxton has been named to succeed Joe Mihalich as Hofstra’s new men’s basketball coach. Claxton, 42, has spent the past eight years with the program, including the last seven as an assistant coach. Mihalich, 64, was forced to step down because of health reasons.
Claxton beat out fellow assistant coach Mike Farrelly, Mihalich’s longtime right-hand man at both Hofstra and Niagara. Farrelly served as the acting coach during Mihalich’s absence this season and guided Hofstra to a 13-10 record and a semifinal appearance in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament. The Pride finished 8-6 and in fourth place in the regular season. Bryant coach Jared Grasso also was a finalist, according to a source.
“Today is a dream come true for me,” Claxton said in a statement. “With that dream comes responsibility. I know the incredible history of the Hofstra men’s basketball program. I have lived it. I have experienced it. I have coached it. And today I am ready to lead it. Everything about Hofstra and our men’s basketball program is special to me and I look forward to continuing the success this program experiences year in and year out. Thank you to all my mentors who have made today possible and a special thank you to Coach Mihalich for his guidance over the last eight years and for leading this program to incredible heights.”
Claxton amplified those thoughts Thursday in a news conference at the Mack Sports and Exhibition Center, where he teared up, saying, "This was my dream job. ... They say it's the arena that Speedy built."
He later said, “It’s about my legacy right now that’s at stake,” noting that he wants to be as big a success as a coach that he was as a player.
Claxton averaged 22.8 points per game as a senior at Hofstra in 1999-2000 and led the then-Flying Dutchmen, guided by current Villanova coach Jay Wright, to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1977, where they lost in the first round to Oklahoma State. He won the Haggerty Award as the best player in the New York metropolitan area that year and subsequently was a first-round NBA Draft selection of the Philadelphia 76ers.
He played seven seasons in the NBA, finishing his career with averages of 9.3 points and 4.3 assists in 334 career games. He helped San Antonio to the 2002-03 NBA title over the New Jersey Nets with 13 points and four assists in the Spurs’ clinching Game 6 win.
“There is no better person than Speedy Claxton to lead our team and build upon the outstanding successes this program has experienced during its rich history,” athletics director Rick Cole Jr. said in a statement. “Speedy’s relationship with Hofstra goes back many years, and he is ready to take the next step and become our head coach. It has been an amazing career and life for Speedy and the entire Hofstra community looks forward to following this next step in his journey.”
During his tenure as a Hofstra assistant, Claxton, one of the program’s most outstanding point guards, has specialized in working with backcourt players, including Justin Wright-Foreman, who was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft. He helped point guard Desure Buie become a first-team All-CAA player as a senior. And was instrumental in Caleb Burgess becoming a productive starter in 2020-21, averaging 33.7 minutes, 8.3 points and 5.6 assists after averaging only 6.3 minutes as a freshman the previous season.
Claxton was part of the staff that earned Hofstra’s first NCAA bid since 2001, the year after he graduated. Hofstra won the CAA tournament and an automatic bid in March 2020, two days before the nationwide sports shutdown. However, like 67 other teams, the Pride never got to participate in the NCAAs because of COVID-19.
It was announced in late August that Mihalich, who had coached Hofstra for seven seasons, was taking a leave of absence because of health issues. During its two games in the CAA tournament, Hofstra draped one of his trademark sport coats on one of its bench chairs. The school announced on March 19 that he would not return to his old job and instead would transition to a role as special advisor to Cole.
