Staten Island, NY – Bashir Mason has been named as the head basketball coach by Wagner College Director of Athletics Walt Hameline. Mason, who at 28 years old, becomes the nation's youngest Division I head coach as well as the 18th coach in Seahawk history after spending the last two seasons on the Green & White sidelines as an assistant coach.

“We're very excited that Bashir Mason will be the next head men's basketball coach here at Wagner College,” Hameline said. “There was a great deal of interest in this position and we spent the past few days fielding calls from a host of coaches from all parts of the country. In elevating Bashir, we are getting a young, hungry, aggressive coach who I believe will build on the foundation that we now have in place. He also gives us continuity and a bridge to the success we've had and will provide our program and student-athletes with great leadership.”

Over the last two years at Wagner, Mason has helped transform a program that won just five games the year before he arrived into one that recorded a school-record 25 victories last season. Also during his short time on Grymes Hill, Mason has been instrumental in helping develop the Seahawk guards into one of the top units in the conference. Last season, senior Tyler Murray and sophomore Latif Rivers were named to the Northeast Conference (NEC) Second Team while sophomore Kenneth Ortiz garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“Bashir's a smart, young person with outstanding character, a strong educational orientation and a remarkable work ethic,” said Wagner College President Dr. Richard Guarasci. “I think he'll be a great representative of the college. We're excited to have him.”

“I am really excited and thankful for the opportunity that Dr. Guarasci, Walt Hameline and the rest of the Wagner administration has presented me with,” said Mason. “I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the program while continuing to move Wagner Basketball in the direction it has been going the last two years.”

Mason began his collegiate coaching career at Marist College, where he spent two seasons (2008-2010) as an assistant coach under Chuck Martin.

A 2007 graduate of Drexel with a degree in sport management, Mason was a four-year standout for head coach James “Bruiser” Flint at the point guard position. A four-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) All-Defensive Team, he became the first player in the history of the CAA to be named Defensive Player of the Year as a freshman following the 2003-2004 campaign and graduated with 1,126 career points.

The Jersey City, NJ native got his coaching start at St. Benedict's during the 2007-2008 season while serving as the coach of the prep team, which won the New Jersey State Prep A Title.

Mason will be introduced to the Seahawk community in a news conference on Tuesday, March 27 at 12:00 pm in the VIP room on the second floor of the Spiro Sports Center. All alumni, fans and members of the media are welcome to attend the press conference.

Follow Wagner Athletics on Twitter (@wagnerathletics) for all the latest news and updates on the athletic department and @WagnerHoops for news and updates on the men's basketball program.