Eric Eaton Steps Down To Accept Head Coach Position at Saint Michael's

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona College men's basketball assistant coach Eric Eaton is stepping down from his role with the program to accept the head coaching position at Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont. The Purple Knights compete in the Division II Northeast-10 Conference. "I'd like to thank Coach Cluess and the entire Iona community for a wonderful two years here in Gael Nation," said Eaton. "Becoming a head coach is a dream come true and Saint Michael's is a terrific opportunity for myself and my family. I will be rooting from a far and look forward to watching the Iona program achieve all of its goals." "I'm very excited for this opportunity for Eric and his family at Saint Michael's," said 10th-year head coach Tim Cluess. "The success of the programs he has mentored as a Division I assistant coach speaks for itself. He was instrumental at Iona College in leading us to back-to-back MAAC titles and NCAA tournament appearances. I am positive he will make a terrific head coach." Eaton spent the last two seasons in New Rochelle and helped lead the Maroon & Gold to the 2018 and 2019 MAAC tournament championships. During his career as an assistant coach at four NCAA Division I institutions, he was a part of seven NCAA tournament teams including three with Holy Cross from 2001-03, two at Albany from 2006-07 and the last two years at Iona. Eaton also served as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac for 11 seasons, with four postseason appearances including an NIT, a CBI and two CIT berths. St. Michael's Northeast 10 rivals include four programs within the New York Metropolitan Area including Adelphi, New Haven, Pace and Southern Connecticut. The 2019-20 Iona Gaels look to extend the nation's longest conference tournament winning streak and seek a fifth straight MAAC Championship this season. The Maroon & Gold's senior trio of Tajuan Agee, E.J. Crawford and Asante Gist headline a talented mix of veterans and newcomers to this year's squad.