Steve DeMeo Named Assistant Coach at St. John's University

Steve DeMeo Named Assistant Coach at St. John's University

NICEVILLE, FL -Steve DeMeo, who has served as Northwest Florida State College's Head Men's Basketball Coach since 2013, has been named Assistant Coach at St. John's University.

Coach Steve DeMeo was instrumental in creating championship teams. In just his second season with the team, Coach DeMeo led the Raiders to the 2015 National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Champion title and was named the 2015 Spalding NJCAA Division I National Coach of the Year. At the 2017 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Final Four tournament, DeMeo received the Red Auerbach Coach of the Year award.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Coach DeMeo for the outstanding job he did at Northwest Florida State College," said Athletic Director Ramsey Ross. "While the 2015 national title will always stand out among his numerous accomplishments, what I most appreciate was the consistency in which our men's basketball program succeeded on the court, in the classroom and in the community. He helped strengthen our foundation as a fixture on the national landscape, and we will forever be grateful for his contributions."

In his tenure at NWF State College, Coach DeMeo has produced an overall record of 170-27 and coached the Raiders to the first undefeated conference season in program history, going 12-0 in conference play during the 2016-17 season. DeMeo also brought the Raiders a Panhandle Conference Championship five years in a row (2014-19) and four FCSAA/NJCAA Region VIII State Tournament Championships in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Coach DeMeo led the Raiders to three Elite 8 appearances at the 2016, 2018 and 2019 NJCAA Tournament and a Final Four appearance in 2017.

Numerous players that Coach DeMeo recruited, coached and developed have been successful in the pros and at the major university level. While at NWF State College, he has helped 42 out of 42 student-athletes earn Division I scholarships and graduate after their sophomore year. His players have gone on to play at four-year universities including NC State, Cincinnati, Oregon, Kansas State, Wichita State, Illinois, Florida State and more. Numerous players that he recruited, coached and developed have been drafted by National Basketball Association teams including Charles Jenkins (Golden State Warriors), Ryan Gomes and MarShon Brooks (Boston), Herbert Hill (Utah) and Marcus Douthit (Los Angeles). In 2019, Oregon-signee Chris Duarte was selected as the NJCAA Division I Player of the Year, the first player to earn that honor under DeMeo and second in school history.

"Coach DeMeo has been an exemplary leader for our men's basketball program and an incredible ambassador for our college over the past six years," said Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of NWF State College. "We wish him nothing but continued success in his future and thank him for his many contributions to our college and this community."

Prior to NWF, DeMeo spent 17 years of coaching at the Division-I level. Teams he coached participated in four NCAA Tournaments and made five NIT appearances. Among his wealth of experiences, Coach DeMeo has served as head coach at Monroe Junior College (1993-1995), assistant coach at Iona College (1995-1998), assistant and associate head coach at Providence College (1998-2008), assistant coach at University of Central Florida (2008-2009), head coach at Newberry College (2009-2010) and associate head coach at Hofstra University (2010-2013). While at Providence College, all 25 of his student-athletes that reached their senior year graduated with their degree.

A national search for a new candidate will begin immediately through the firm SportlinkUSA.