Sean Kearney is in his first season as the headmen's basketball coach at the College of the Holy Cross in2009-2010. This is the first collegiate head coaching position inthe career of Kearney, who is the 15th head coach in the history ofthe program.
Kearney came to Holy Cross from the Universityof Notre Dame, where he served as associate head coach for nineyears under Mike Brey. He coordinated the program's nationalrecruiting efforts, and played a key role in the development oflow-post players. Over the course of Kearney's nine seasons on thestaff, Notre Dame posted a 188-101 record for a .651 winningpercentage and advanced to the postseason in each of thosecampaigns, including five NCAA tournament trips and a berth in theSweet 16 in 2003. The Irish recorded five 20-win seasons andfinished with an 88-60 record in Big East regular-season playduring Kearney's tenure, including five years with 10-plus wins inthe conference.
Over the course of his last three seasons withthe Irish, Kearney helped lead the team to a combined overallrecord of 70-31 (.693) and a 33-19 (.635) mark in Big East regularseason play. During the 2007-2008 season, Notre Dame finished witha final record of 25-8 (good for the third-most wins in schoolhistory) and a program-best 14-4 mark in Big East play. Kearneyalso helped the Irish post a 24-8 mark during the 2006-2007campaign and a 24-10 mark in 2003-2003.
While at Notre Dame, Kearney was instrumental inthe development of first round NBA draft picks Troy Murphy (2001)and Ryan Humphrey (2002). Also under his tutelage, Torin Francisearned All-Big East honors twice and finished his career as one ofonly seven players in Notre Dame history with more than 1,000career points and 900 career rebounds. Kearney also helped developLuke Harangody, who was named the Big East Player of the Year in2008, after becoming just the second player in conference historyto lead the league in both scoring and rebounding.
Prior to his time at Notre Dame, Kearney was on the staff at theUniversity of Delaware for nine seasons, serving under Brey andSteve Steinwedel. After serving as an assistant coach during hisfirst seven years with the Blue Hens, he was promoted to associatehead coach prior to the start of the 1998-1999 season. Kearneyhelped Delaware to four NCAA tournament appearances (1992, 1993,1998 and 1999) during his tenure at the school. The Blue Henscombined for a 99-52 (.656) record from 1995-2000 and registered atleast 20 wins in each of his final three years at Delaware, a firstin that school's history. While at Delaware, Kearney wasinstrumental in developing the Blue Hens' post players. Three ofthe players he worked with -- Greg Smith, Spencer Dunkley and MikePegues - combined to hold over 20 Blue Hen records.
Kearney previously served as an assistant coachat Northwestern under Bill Foster (1988-1991), Division IIPhiladelphia University under Herb Magee (1987-1988) and Providenceunder Rick Pitino (1986-1987). During his only season atProvidence, the Friars advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
In 1981, Kearney began coaching as an assistantat his alma mater, Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield, Pa.From 1981-1986, he spent five years working with his former highschool coach, Bud Gardler. While coaching at Cardinal O'Hara, hewas employed as a senior systems analyst for Cigna. It was duringthat time that Kearney joined the staff of the prestigious FiveStar Basketball Camps. That association helped him move on to thecollege coaching ranks.
Kearney, who graduated with honors from theUniversity of Scranton in 1981 with a bachelor's degree inpolitical science, was a four-year member of the Royals' basketballteam. In his final two seasons, Scranton finished with consecutive18-11 records. He was a member of teams that won three MiddleAtlantic Conference titles and earned three NCAA Division IIIplayoff appearances. As a senior, he averaged 4.2 assists per game.
Born Nov. 14, 1959, Kearney is married to the former KimberlyLancaster. The couple has two daughters, Erin, a senior in highschool, and Shannon, a high school sophomore.
