Marist Inks Dunne to Contract Extension

Marist College announced that men’s basketball head coach John Dunne signed a multi-year contract extension on Wednesday, Mar. 23.

“I am very excited to have my contract extended,” Dunne said in the Marist press release. “Marist is a special place with great people. We have become very competitive and I look forward to taking the next step in building this program.”

Per Marist’s policy, the college did not make the terms of Dunne’s contract public. Marist hired Dunne away from MAAC foe Saint Peter’s in April 2018 after a 12-year tenure that included an NCAA Tournament appearance for the Peacocks.

Since taking the Marist job, Dunne has amassed a 45-67 record in four seasons in Poughkeepsie. Under his eye, the Red Foxes have escaped the bottom of the MAAC, earning their first winning season since 2008 during the 2020-21 campaign. The dark spot on Dunne’s resume is that his Marist teams have yet to make it out of the first round of the MAAC Tournament.

Since the end of the 2021-22 season, four Marist players, Ricardo Wright, Raheim Sullivan, Braden Bell, and Matt Herasme have entered the transfer portal.

“I’m pleased that Coach Dunne will be our head coach moving forward,” said Tim Murray, Marist’s athletic director. “John has embraced Marist and is building an outstanding foundation for our basketball program. We believe that he is an exceptional fit for Marist College.”

While the college does not disclose the financial aspects of Dunne’s new deal, since Marist is a tax-exempt organization, it is required to disclose the salaries of some of its highest-earning people. In 2020, Dunne made $358,252, making him the fourth highest-paid person at Marist.

With the new contract, Dunne will have at least a few more years to try to secure Marist’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 1987.

The announcement comes at a time when Dunne’s former school, Saint Peter’s, is preparing to play in the Sweet 16 under Shaheen Holloway, who was brought in to replace him after his departure.

Photo from Marist Athletics

Edited by Mackenzie Meaney