Shortly after Iona College named Dan Geriot as its new head men’s basketball coach on Thursday, none other than LeBron James took to social media to celebrate the move.
“HELL YEEAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH BIG DAN!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS BROTHER!!!” James posted on X, making it clear he’s all-in on Geriot’s next chapter.
Geriot, 36, has deep NBA experience, spending the last decade as an assistant, including nine years with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His time in Cleveland overlapped with James’ second stint with the franchise (2015-18), and he was promoted to an assistant role during James’ final season there.
Geriot comes to guide the Gaels in the NIL era
Iona’s decision to hire Geriot comes amid a major shift in the program. The school also teased plans to introduce a general manager-an unprecedented move aimed at strengthening Iona’s NIL revenue.
“The landscape of college basketball has changed dramatically over the last couple of years,” Iona president Seamus Carey said in a statement. “Dan Geriot’s experience fits the needs of the program well, and we are confident that under his guidance our student-athletes will grow and succeed both on and off the court.”
Geriot will bring stability to Iona
The hiring follows the unexpected dismissal of Tobin Anderson just three days earlier. Anderson had taken over after Rick Pitino’s departure to St. John’s in 2023 but failed to deliver the same level of success. Unlike Pitino, who guided the Gaels to two NCAA tournament appearances, Anderson’s squad never made it out of the MAAC tournament.
Now, with Geriot at the helm and Iona rethinking its entire approach to the college basketball landscape, all eyes are on the Gaels to see if this bold new direction pays off. And if LeBron’s reaction is any indication, big things could be ahead.
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