by MARIA THOMAS & ANNA WOODS, Asst. News Editor & Staff Writer

At the start of the school year, ​Men’s Basketball head coach Steve Masiello named RaShawn Stores associate head coach for the upcoming season.

During his time as a student at Manhattan College, Stores was a two-year team captain for Men’s Basketball, winning two MAAC Titles. Stores was a part of 71 total wins, including nine during MAAC Tourney play. Stores, entered the program as a walk-on, graduated ninth in school history with 314 assists and was a Defensive All-American as a senior in 2015-16

Stores graduated from MC with a degree in business management in 2015 and received a master’s degree in organizational leadership in 2017.

When starting our on the Men’s Basketball coaching staff, Stores was hired as special assistant to coach Masiello. A year later, however, he was promoted to assistant coach. He held this position for two years and, in his fourth year on the coaching staff, he has been named associate head coach.

Stores is one of two associate head coaches, working alongside Matt Grady, who has been in the position for the last nine years.

“I feel blessed to be with Coach Mas, the coaching staff, and Coach Grady … for the last eight to nine years,” said Stores.

As associate head coach, Stores says his responsibilities consist of recruiting, filming, scouting, administrative work, and being a model for his players. Stores sees his new position as an opportunity to help his players grow in every aspect of their lives.

Stores said his favorite part of coaching is “being able to help young men grow everyday to become better leaders. We get them at a young age but it’s a lasting impact on their lives so we want them to grow, of course, in basketball but also off the court. And that’s what I can say Manhattan College has done for me, especially.”

Stores has high hopes for this upcoming season and is excited to work with everyone to achieve the goals of the team.

“It’s just another opportunity to go with the guys and the staff … trying to reach the NCAA tournament with another MAAC title and hopefully continuing to grow, building the journey and the Manhattan legacy,” said Stores.

Stores says that this particular team has gotten to know each other well, and this bonding is what will carry them into a strong season.

“We’re just working hard. You know, this team was young last year. We returned everybody except Capuano, who graduated last year, and now we’re just growing together as a team, as a family, growing closer every day. You know, we had our battles last year. So we continue to just grind and just stay together on this journey.”

He is grateful for the opportunities that Manhattan has offered him.

“Manhattan has been great to me. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be a part of this university, this school, this college. And won two championships being able to play nationwide on ESPN and other networks and just continuing to build the brand,” said Stores.