Bashir Mason takes over Wagner hoops

Mar 26, 2012 - 4:02 PM Staten Island, NY (Sports Network) - Bashir Mason has been named the new men's basketball coach at Wagner College.

Mason had been an assistant for the past two seasons under Dan Hurley, who left last week to take the vacancy at Rhode Island. At age 28, Mason will become the nation's youngest Division I coach.

"We're very excited that Bashir Mason will be the next head men's basketball coach here at Wagner College," said Wagner athletic director Walt Hameline in a statement. "There was a great deal of interest in this position and we spent the past few days fielding calls from a host of coaches from all parts of the country. In elevating Bashir, we are getting a young, hungry, aggressive coach who I believe will build on the foundation that we now have in place. He also gives us continuity and a bridge to the success we've had and will provide our program and student-athletes with great leadership."

Hurley had turned around the Wagner program. The Seahawks were 5-26 the year before he arrived, then went 13-17 in his first season and 25-6 in 2011-12.

"I am really excited and thankful for the opportunity the Wagner administration has presented me with," said Mason. "I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the program while continuing to move Wagner basketball in the direction it has been going the last two years."

Mason, a 2007 Drexel graduate, began his collegiate coaching career at Marist College, spending two years as an assistant under Chuck Martin.