Joe Tartamella

				Hometown: St. James, N.Y. Position: Head Coach Experience: First Season Alma Mater: James Madison '01

Joe Tartamella was introduced as head women's basketball coach in April 2012.

Joe Tartamella was introduced as the eighth head coach in the history of the St. John's women's basketball program on April 27, 2012. (Photo Gallery)

Regarded as one of the top up-and-coming mentors in women's basketball, Tartamella's coaching career has been forged over a nine-year tenure assisting St. John's all-time winningest coach Kim Barnes Arico (2003-12). Beginning as a Red Storm graduate assistant in 2002, Tartamella, 32, worked his way through the ranks and served as Barnes Arico's associate head coach for the four seasons leading up to his elevation to head coach. He has been an integral part of a staff that has been to four NCAA Tournaments, with an undefeated record in the First Round, including St. John's run to its first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 in 2012. As a program, St. John's has been to the NCAA Tournament seven times, four with Tartamella on staff.

In his nine-year career with the Red Storm, Tartamella has played a vital role in helping turn around the St. John's women's basketball program and lead it to its present successes. During Tartamella's tenure, St. John's has advanced to nine BIG EAST Tournaments, two Women's National Invitation Tournament appearances, including a WNIT Quarterfinals in 2007-08, and four NCAA Tournaments, including the program's first NCAA Tournament berth in more than 17 years during the 2005-06 campaign, and St. John's first-ever NCAA Regional Semifinal appearance in 2011-12. Tartamella has coached 19 All-BIG EAST and All-Rookie players, 12 All-Met selections and has enjoyed many a national Top 25 ranking during his time at St. John's, including a program-best No. 13 Associated Press ranking during the 2011-12 campaign.

Tartamella's scouting and game-planning tactics have proved to be invaluable as St. John's has enjoyed numerous victories over Top 25 opponents, including the team's three historic upset-victories over Notre Dame when the Irish were ranked No. 13 in 2005-06, No. 9 in 2007-08 and No. 4/3 in 2009-10. In 2011-12, he boasted the winning scout in St. John's win over then-No. 2 Connecticut on Feb. 18, ending the Huskies' 99-game home-winning streak. With Tartamella as part of Barnes Arico's staff, the Red Storm has claimed a .560 winning percentage.

Tartamella is also known for his recruiting prowess and has consistently brought in top-rated talent for the Red Storm. Highlighting his role as recruiting coordinator was the 2009-10 class that ESPN.com ranked as 10th best in the nation and No. 1 in the BIG EAST. The class, seniors for the 2012-13 season, included All-BIG EAST Freshmen Shenneika Smith and Nadirah McKenith, who have blossomed into national headliners with both earning 2012 Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-Region and 2012 All-BIG EAST honors, among their many collegiate accolades. For the upcoming 2012-13 season, Tartamella was also instrumental in the recruitment of Sandra Udobi-Ufogu, who is ranked as high as No. 30 nationally in her class.

In 2008-09, Tartamella's first season as associate head coach, he helped then-freshman Da'Shena Stevens become one of the best rookies in St. John's history, as she broke the rookie scoring record and became the second player in program history to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year. Stevens further developed under his tutelage, as she was named a 2010 Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention Selection, an All-BIG EAST First Team honoree and the 2010 MBWA Player of the Year.

During the successful 2011-12 season, Tartamella helped St. John's to its third-straight NCAA Tournament appearance as a program-best No. 3 seed. St. John's advanced to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the first time in program history and enjoyed a 24-10 final record. St. John's was also the No. 2 seed in the BIG EAST Tournament and advanced to the Tournament's semifinals for the first time since 1988.

Prior to St. John's, Tartamella spent a year as an assistant men's basketball coach under the direction of head coach Tom Spina at SUNY Maritime College in Throgs Neck, N.Y. His responsibilities included recruiting and developing long and short-range strategies, administering game plans to players for execution in practice and games, and organizing and implementing pre- and post-season conditioning programs. Tartamella also served as the assistant director of career services at SUNY Maritime College. After graduating from James Madison University in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in business administration in marketing information, he coached alongside Joe Castiglie - the most successful coach in Stony Brook men's basketball history - at St. Anthony's High School. After his stint coaching boys' varsity, Tartamella was hired as the graduate assistant coach for the St. John's women's basketball team. A native of St. James, N.Y., Tartamella earned his master's degree in marketing management from St. John's in 2004. A fiery competitor as a coach and athlete, Tartamella was a two-sport star at Smithtown High School, enjoying success as a basketball and baseball player. His success as a prep star resulted in numerous scholarship offers before an injury ended his promising playing career and led him to coaching.

A member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), Tartamella was invited guest to the Nike Villa 7 Coaches Consortium in 2010 and in 2012. The consortium was developed to bring together university athletic directors and the country's elite assistant basketball coaches in an effort to prepare coaches for the next level.

Tartamella and his wife Shannon reside in Long Island, New York. The couple welcomed baby Brady Patrick Tartamella on Feb. 3, 2011.

Follow head coach Joe Tartamella on Twitter @STJ_CoachT.

The Joe Tartamella File
Coaching Experience
2012-present: St. John's University, Head Coach
2008-2012: St. John's University, Associate Head Coach
2005-08: St. John's University, Assistant Coach
2004-05: SUNY Maritime College, Assistant Coach
2002-04: St. John's University, Graduate Assistant
2001-02: St. Anthony's High School, Assistant Coach

Personal
Education
B.B.A., James Madison University, 2001
M.B.A., St. John's University, 2004

Photo Gallery Of Tartamella In Action | VIDEO: Tartamella Introduced As Head Coach