Saint Joseph's coach Billy Lange leaves for job with Knicks

Field Level Media|published: Thu 11th September, 02:21 2025

NCAA Basketball: Villanova at St. Joseph

Dec 17, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Saint Joseph's Hawks head coach Billy Lange leads a huddle against the Villanova Wildcats in the second half at Michael J. Hagan Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Billy Lange left his role as head coach at Saint Joseph's for a job with the New York Knicks and was replaced by former Cornell, Boston College and Penn head coach Steve Donahue, the school announced on Wednesday.

Lange replaced Phil Martelli, who led the Hawks for 24 seasons, before the 2019-20 campaign. He had a record of 81-104, but his winning percentage increased each season, from .188 (6-26) in the first season to .629 (22-13) in 2024-25.

"Billy and I shared a vision for how to run a program in the new world of college sports," Saint Joseph's athletic director Jill Bodensteiner said in a statement. "He built that infrastructure from the ground up -- people, culture, facilities, student-athlete development and talent. We have all of the pieces we need to be successful as Steve Donahue leads us into our next chapter of Hawks basketball."

Lange will work on player development in the Knicks' front office.

Lange, who started his coaching career in the high school ranks in 1995, previously was the head coach at the Merchant Marine Academy (1999-2001) and Navy (2004-11). He also has served as an assistant coach at Villanova and La Salle and with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Donahue, 63, went 131-130 over the last nine seasons at Penn with one NCAA Tournament appearance, in 2018. He was named Ivy League Coach of the Year that season. Prior to that, he went 54-76 in four seasons at Boston College and was 146-138 at Cornell from the 2000-01 to 2009-10 seasons. The Big Red made the NCAA Tournament in each of his final three seasons with the school.

"With Steve Donahue moving into the head coach role, I confidently pass along a foundation and a structure that was built brick by brick, without compromise, and occupied by united competitors whose hearts are filled with a bold vision," Lange said in a statement.

The Hawks, of the Atlantic-10 Conference, have not played in the NCAA Tournament since 2015-16. They open the season Nov. 3 against Lafayette.

--Field Level Media