Steve Masiello has officially been reinstated as the coach at Manhattan.
Masiello had been placed on leave by the school in April after it was revealed that he hadn’t received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky, although his résumé said he had graduated. He finished the last of his course work last week and was welcomed back by the school on Friday.
Entering his fourth season with the Jaspers, Masiello will be able to begin working with the team immediately.
“We are happy to have Coach Masiello back on campus,” Manhattan College Director of Athletics Noah D. LeFevre said in a statement. “We are pleased he was able to complete his academic requirements in order to enable his return. His presence will greatly benefit our men’s basketball student-athletes and the entire program.”
When the situation arose in late March — less than a week after Masiello led the Jaspers to their first NCAA Tournament in a decade and a near-upset of defending national champion Louisville — the school deliberated for nearly two weeks before deciding to bring Masiello back, allowing the 36-year-old to remain in Riverdale after determining he did not intentionally falsify the information on his résumé.
Masiello still has two years remaining on his contract with Manhattan.
“I am extremely grateful to Manhattan for the opportunity to return as its men’s basketball coach,” Masiello said in a statement. “I also am happy to have completed the requirements for my degree.”