Contact: Ryan McCarthy, Associate Director of Athletics, Pratt (rmccar12@pratt.edu, 718-399-4530)
BROOKLYN – Pratt Institute named longtime Division I and former Big East assistant coach and New York native Julius Allen head men's basketball coach on Tuesday, director of athletics Dave Adebanjo announced.
"Coach Allen brings excitement and instant credibility to the Pratt Athletics Men's Basketball program," Adebanjo said. "Julius has a long distinguished career in college athletics coupled with over 15 years of youth leadership, development in community organizations and institutions of higher education."
Allen served as an assistant coach at Binghamton University from 2007-09. Prior to his arrival at Binghamton, he served as assistant coach at the University of South Florida in 2006-07 during the program's inaugural season in the Big East. Before joining the Bulls, Allen built his Division I resume at Howard University (2002-03), Northeastern University (2001-02), Towson University (1999-2001), McNeese State (1998-99) and Long Island University (1995-96 and 1997-98).
He also spent a number of years coaching the in professional ranks, assisting with the Westchester Stallions of the United Stated Basketball Association from 1992-95 and the Oklahoma City Cavalry of the Continental Basketball Association in 1992 and 1993.
Allen has also worked as a physical education teacher, residential aide, activity therapist and recreation director throughout the Bronx and Queens.
His college playing career consisted of two seasons at Oklahoma City Southwestern Junior College followed by one at Oregon State and one at Southern Nazarene University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology.
Adebanjo also announced the hiring of Ryan McCarthy as the Institute's associate director of athletics.
"We are delighted to have Ryan join the Pratt Athletics staff and family," Adebanjo said. "He brings with him a wealth of experience and some very impressive credentials. We believe he will make an immediate impact and raise the bar of quality as he has done for every program he has been a member."
McCarthy joins Pratt from Division III Lesley University in Cambridge, MA, where he introduced live video streaming and live online statistics, redesigned the Lesley's athletics website and enhanced the social media presence of the Lynx athletics department and its 16 NCAA varsity programs.
Prior to his over two years at Lesley, McCarthy served for two-plus years as sports information director and director of athletics operations at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA. He has also held positions at the University at Buffalo (2007-08), Medialle College (2007-08) and Buffalo State (2006-07).
A Buffalo native, he graduated from St. Bonaventure with a B.A. in journalism and mass communication in 2005 and earned a master's degree from SUNY Buffalo State College in student personnel administration in 2008.
Allen's Cannoneers open 2012-13 at home on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Webb Institute.
