Seawolves Tap Ohio State's Boals as Basketball Coach

Stony Brook, coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance, hired Ohio State assistant Jeff Boals as its basketball coach Saturday.

Boals succeeds Steve Pikiell, who left for Rutgers after leading the Seawolves to the NCAAs. Stony Brook lost to Kentucky in the first round.

Boals will be introduced Monday, the 11th basketball coach in the school's history.

"I look forward to working with the team, building upon the success of last season and continuing it into the future," he said. "I can't wait to get started."

A member of coach Thad Matta's staff since 2009-10, Boals helped guide Ohio State to seven postseason appearances, including six NCAAs and the 2012 Final Four. The Buckeyes won or claimed a share of three Big Ten titles while Boals was in Columbus.

Boals was instrumental in bringing top recruits to Ohio State, including current NBA players Jared Sullinger and D'Angelo Russell along with Aaron Craft, the school's career assists leader. He also coached 2010 Player of the Year Evan Turner.

Athletic director Shawn Heilbron said he sought a coach who could lead Stony Brook to "new heights."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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