Joe Mihalich returns to La Salle as Fran Dunphy’s special assistant
Mihalich and Dunphy are reunited after once coaching at La Salle together for Speedy Morris and Lefty Ervin.
La Salle men’s basketball coach Fran Dunphy announced Friday that Joe Mihalich, another seasoned coach and fellow La Salle graduate, would be joining the staff as his special assistant.
Mihalich has nearly 40 years of experience coaching, rejoining La Salle with more than 400 career wins in his 22 years as a head coach. Mihalich is no stranger to the program, having been a player and assistant coach in the past.
Dunphy expressed the excitement surrounding Mihalich returning home to 20th and Olney, reminiscing on how the two coached together on the staffs for former head coaches Lefty Ervin and Speedy Morris, and emphasizing that “his vast experience and knowledge will benefit myself, our student-athletes, and the rest of our coaching staff tremendously.”
Being able to work alongside Dunphy only sweetens the deal for the 65-year-old Mihalich.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be back at my alma mater,” Mihalich said in a statement. “The opportunity to work with one of my best friends in the college basketball world and another La Salle alum, Coach Dunphy, makes this all the more special. I look forward to developing relationships with our players, coaches, and staff members as we work together to create a championship culture at La Salle.”
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Championship culture is something the Philadelphia native is familiar with, having spent seven seasons at Hofstra University, where he recorded a 141-92 record. He led the Pride to four trips to the postseason, including two NIT appearances and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid that didn’t happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Mihalich, Hofstra won the Colonial Athletic Association regular season championship three times.
Mihalich also has 265 wins, five postseason appearances, and three MAAC Coach of the Year awards in his time at Niagara University.
Before Hofstra and Niagara, he spent 17 seasons at La Salle, including eight postseason appearances and was part of five NCAA Tournament teams. He also helped develop several players that would go on to have careers in the NBA, including Lionel Simmons, Tim Legler, Doug Overton, and Randy Woods.