Molloy University Athletics

Joe Pellicane enters his ninth consecutive season at the helm of the women's basketball team in 2023-24 (10th total, leading the team for the 2005-06 season).
 

Women's Coaching Record (2000-02, 2005-Pres.) 281-220 (.560) Coaching Record at Molloy (05-06; 2015-Pres.) 112-126 (.470)

NCAA Tournament Appearances (WBB) 4

NCAA Regional Championships (WBB) 1

ECC Tournament Appearances (WBB) 12

ECC Tournament Championships (WBB) 3

All-American Selections (WBB) 3

All-Region Selections (WBB) 11

All-Conference Selections (WBB) 25

Coach of the Year Awards (WBB) 8

In his return to Rockville Centre, Coach Pellicane has seen immediate success, appearing in four East Coast Conference Tournaments (one championship), and two NCAA Tournaments in the past seven seasons. In 2016-17, Pellicane guided the Lions to a program-record 24-9 record, winning the program's first ECC Championship since 2010 with a 56-53 victory over New York Institute of Technology. In the NCAA Tournament, the Lions handed top-seeded Adelphi University their first home loss of the season in a buzzer-beating 59-58 victory to advance to the East Regional Championship for the first time in program history. 

A coaching resume that spans more than 40 years spanning both men’s and women’s basketball, Pellicane harbors a 558-391 coaching record. A eight-time ECC Coach of the Year recipient, Pellicane’s teams have racked up 29 postseason appearances, six NCAA postseason appearances, four NJCAA postseason appearances, seven top-25 national rankings, 56 All-Conference Players, and seven All-Americans.

Previously, Pellicane served as an assistant women's basketball coach for Division I St. John's University from June 2013-2015. It was his second assistant coaching stint with the Red Storm as Pellicane was the top assistant coach from 2002-04.

Before returning to St. John's, Pellicane guided the Dowling College women's basketball team for nine years (2006-13), where he earned a 169-95 (.640) record and led the Golden Lions to the NCAA Division II National Championship finals and two NCAA tournament berths. In 2012-13, his ninth year as head coach at Dowling, Pellicane recorded one of his most successful seasons at the helm of the women's basketball program, as he led the Golden Lions to a program-best 30-4 record, a Division II Championship Final and a second-consecutive ECC Regular Season and Tournament title. He was named the Division II All-Met Coach of the Year, Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year and the Golden Lions received a No. 2 ranking in the WBCA National Poll. In addition, the Golden Lions were No. 1 in defense according to the national NCAA statistical rankings.


Before bringing his talents and prowess to the women’s game, he spent 13 years on the sidelines as the former men's basketball head coach at Dowling from 1986-99. During his tenure at his alma mater, Pellicane amassed a 205-161 overall record, averaging 17 victories per season. He guided the Golden Lions to two NCAA Tournaments in 1995 and 1998, as well as the Division II ECAC Championship in 1988. Pellicane was named the 1998 NYCAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year. His efforts and achievements for the Golden Lions earned Pellicane a spot in the Dowling College Hall of Fame.

Prior to his stints at Dowling and Molloy, Pellicane served on the St. John's staff from 2002-04, where he was integral in helping former Head Coach Kim Barnes Arico rebuild the Red Storm to the BIG EAST contender it is today. As the top assistant, he helped bring in a top-40 recruiting class that helped St. John's return to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 -- the first time in 20 years.

Prior to his men's basketball coaching stint at Dowling, Pellicane was an assistant men's basketball coach/academic advisor at Hofstra University (1984-85), the head men's basketball coach at Farmingdale State College (1982-85), and the head men's basketball coach at Suffolk West Community College (1980-81).
Spanning nearly 32 years from 1970-2002, Pellicane held numerous positions within the North Babylon Union School District including: history teacher, summer school principal and school counselor. He is also the Director and Founder of the East Coast Basketball Camp in Southampton, N.Y. and the Director of the Town of Islip Basketball Summer Program.

A standout starting point guard for Dowling during the days of legendary coaches Frank Layden and Richard Berg, Pellicane helped lead the Golden Lions to the CIAC Championship and a top-10 finish nationally on a 23-2 team during his senior campaign.

Pellicane earned his bachelor's degree in Education/Social Science from Dowling in 1970 and went on to complete a master of science degree in counseling education from LIU Post. He then later received his School Administration and Supervisor Professional Diploma from Dowling. On October 10, 2002, Pellicane was inducted into the Dowling College Athletic Hall of Fame.

Pellicane and his wife, Linda, reside in Deer Park, N.Y.  The Pellicanes have three children: Andrea, Keith and Lauren. Lauren was a guard for head coach Harry Perretta at Villanova from 1996-2001, then returned as a graduate assistant coach for the Wildcats.

Pellicane's Coaching Career:
2015-present: Head Women's Basketball Coach, Molloy College
2013-15: Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, St. John's University
2006-13: Head Women's Basketball Coach, Dowling College
2005-06: Head Women's Basketball Coach, Molloy College
2002-04: Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, St. John's University
2000-02: Head Women's Basketball Coach, Dowling College
1986-99: Head Men's Basketball Coach, Dowling College
1984-85: Assistant Men's Basketball Coach, Hofstra University
1981-84: Head Men's Basketball Coach, Farmingdale State College
1980-81: Head Men's Basketball Coach, Suffolk West Community College