May 1, 2008

Bronx, N.Y. - Fordham women's basketball coach Cathy Andruzzi announced the hiring of John Thurston as an assistant women's basketball coach.

"I am excited to have John join our basketball family. John has over 35 years experience as a teacher, coach and administrator. He is an outstanding basketball technician who will be a valuable asset to the growth of our student athletes and program. He is a New Yorker with a strong work ethic and a competitive drive. He will promote the goals I have established for our women's basketball program," said Andruzzi.

Thurston comes to Fordham after two very successful seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, Florida, after being named the program's first head coach in August 2005.

In two seasons as the head coach at Northwood, he compiled a 41-21 record, and led the Lady Seahawks to a pair of Florida Sun Conference regular season titles. He was named FSC Coach of the Year in 2008, and under his tutelage, Kara Otterbine (2008) and Katie Vican (2007) were named FSC Player of the Year. In 2008, Thurston led the Lady Seahawks to their first appearance at the Division II NAIA National Tournament.

One of only a handful of coaches who has coached at all three levels of the NCAA, Thurston has found success on all levels with 231 career coaching victories in 15 seasons as a head coach. The Bronx, N.Y., native has also developed a reputation of grooming players for careers both on and off the court. Under his guidance, six former players were NBA draft picks, with two enjoying careers in the league, while eight others played professionally in Europe or the CBA. In addition, 14 of his former players have followed him into the coaching ranks and are currently coaches at the high school or college level.

Thurston came to Northwood after spending two years as the top assistant at UNC-Wilmington. During his tenure, he worked primarily with the team's post players and played a key role in the development of three all-conference honorees, including the school's first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Rookie-of-the-Year recipient.

A 1966 graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School, Thurston was an All-City performer in both basketball and baseball. Thurston was named the school's most outstanding student-athlete and was selected in the sixth round of the Professional Baseball draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Thurston continued his education at Seton Hall University, where he played basketball and baseball for the Pirates. He was the recipient of the school's John F. Kennedy Award for the university's outstanding student-athlete before graduating with a B.A. in government and economics in 1970.

TRANSACTIONS: Fordham - John Thurston named assistant women's basketball coach.