Shaheen Holloway was officially introduced as Seton Hall’s men’s basketball coach on Thursday, but he wouldn’t look ahead without making sure he, and everyone else in the room, acknowledged who helped him get there.
With all of his Saint Peter’s squad in attendance at Walsh Gymnasium, where the Pirates were welcoming Holloway home to his alma mater, Holloway made sure to acknowledge his Peacocks, who helped him become a no-brainer decision to take over the Pirates program after Saint Peter’s became the first 15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to reach the Elite Eight.
“First, I wouldn’t be up here if it wasn’t for those 15 young men right there, so,” Holloway began, before the crowd in attendance all rose in unison and directed a standing ovation towards the Peacocks squad.
But that wasn’t enough for Holloway, who knows he is back home, coaching the same squad he led to the Sweet 16 as a player more than two decades ago, because of what he and Saint Peter’s accomplished together this March.
So he directed the crowd to stand for his Peacocks again, but a little bit louder this time.
“Hold on. Pirate nation, we can do it better than that,” Holloway said. “Pirate nation, those 15 young men right there, stand up. Get up!”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch