By John Fanta

@John_Fanta

NEW JERSEY – Saint Peter’s will hire Seton Hall associate head coach Shaheen Holloway as their next head coach, Adam Zagoria reported early Tuesday evening.

An all-time Pirate great as a player, Holloway’s contributions to the Pirates have been invaluable as Kevin Willard’s top assistant for the last eight seasons in South Orange. Saint Peter’s Athletic Director Bryan Felt certainly knows that. He spent 13 years in Seton Hall’s Athletic Department before taking the job in Jersey City.

Holloway was a major key to Seton Hall’s ascendance back to the national stage. Playing a huge role in the recruitment of the 2018 graduating class that powered the Pirates to a BIG EAST Championship in 2016 and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances, there’s no question that he’ll be hard to replace in South Orange.

Having said this, the hire checks off all of the boxes for Saint Peter’s. Holloway’s not only a strong talent evaluator, but a developer. What he did at Seton Hall with Sterling Gibbs, Isaiah Whitehead, and Khadeen Carrington, among others, is truly special. There’s no question that being a head coach was the next step for Holloway.

He’s ready to be the leader of a program.