This is part two of a 12-part series spotlighting the new head coaches in the region penned by D2EastHoops, Tim McCaffrey.
New Saint Thomas Aquinas women’s basketball coach Bill Cleary brings nearly two decades of collegiate head coaching experience to Sparkill, New York. The veteran program builder makes Rockland County the fourth stop of an already storied career. Unlike his previous three adventures, though, this team is more primed for success than his previous trio.
“It’s the first time in my career that it’s clear there is the foundation of winning already in place and the credit has to go to Kim (Lusk) for leaving me a luxury car in the parking lot,” Cleary said, referring to his predecessor, who left the business to pursue other career opportunities after 13 seasons with the Spartans. “We’re going to do our best to build on the solid foundation and win one game at a time and see where it takes us.”
Cleary took over a Wilmington (DE) Wildcat program in 2002 that was struggling, averaging two wins a season over the five years prior to his arrival, and he has been a head college basketball coach ever since. Four years a 22-win season and an ECAC Championship later, Cleary accepted the job at Bloomsburg (PA) University. BU had won only 33 games in four seasons before but as luck would have it Cleary took his squad to its first NCAA tournament in over 20 years in 2012. The first wouldn’t be the last, as he followed that with three 26-win seasons, four more NCAA tournament appearances, an unprecedented five-straight PSAC East titles, and a 2015 team that was arguably the second best in the nation. This impressive body of work landed Cleary at Division I Colgate where he led the Raiders to their most regular-season wins in school history and best-ever finish in the Patriot League.
“I always wanted to give it a shot,” Cleary said, on coaching at the D1 level. “It was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up, but I have to be honest with you, Division II is where my heart is.”
Make no mistake, the Spartans are not a program in disarray. Former coach Lusk won 213 games and made two NCAA tourney appearances during her tenure.
“It’s been proven that you can win regionals here,” Cleary said, since on the men’s side, Tobin Anderson took his team to the Elite Eight in 2017. In addition, Spartan baseball was a national finalist that same year. “The support of athletics was a top priority for me and I’ve never been anywhere where we’ve been this supported. Being part of a community like this is very special.”
The native of the Philadelphia suburb of Broomall downplays his success, going as far as to not talk about his numerous coaching awards.
“It’s the job of the head coach to put the team in the best position possible to succeed. It’s always the players who deserve the credit.”
So how good can STAC be?
“I think we’ve got a great home court and a lot of talent, but this season I’m taking it one day at a time!”
When a head coach turns one program around it could be considered an accident. The second program could merely be a coincidence. But after Cleary turned around Colgate, a team in the Patriot League basement so long they had it fully furnished, it is apparent to anyone with eyes these turnarounds were no mistake.
One thing about Cleary that becomes more apparent the more you get to know him: he will not take credit.
“Everywhere you go, you need players to buy into what you’re doing and when you’re lucky and they do, you can accomplish great things.”
STAC Director of Athletics, Nicole Ryan has reeled in a D1 fish for the D2 level.
Tim McCaffrey is an opinion and features writer for D2EastHoops. He can be reached at tpmccaffrey@gmail.com
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