Tim Cluess
{{Short description|American basketball coach (born 1959)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Tim Cluess
| image = Tim Cluess, Iona College Men's Basketball.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| contract =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1959|3|9}}
| birth_place = Queens, New York, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1979–1981
| player_team1 = St. John's
| player_years2 = 1982–1983
| player_team2 = Hofstra
| player_positions = Guard
| coach_years1 = 1991–2005
| coach_team1 = Saint Mary's HS
| coach_years2 = 2005–2006
| coach_team2 = Suffolk CC
| coach_years3 = 2006–2010
| coach_team3 = LIU Post
| coach_years4 = 2010–2019
| coach_team4 = Iona
| overall_record = 297–131 (college)
22–10 (junior college)
265–78 (high school)
| bowl_record =
| tournament_record =
| championships =
- 3× ECC regular season champion (2008–2010)
- 2× ECC Tournament champion (2008, 2009)
- 4× MAAC regular season champion (2012, 2014, 2015, 2019)
- 5× MAAC tournament (2013, 2016–2019)
| awards =
- 2× MAAC Coach of the Year (2014, 2019)
| coaching_records =
}}
Timothy Michael Cluess (born March 9, 1959) is an American college basketball coach who most recently was the head men's basketball coach at Iona College. He is also a former head coach of Long Island University–C.W. Post.
College playing career
Born in Queens, New York, Cluess played college basketball at St. John's (1979–81){{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/st-johns-ny/1980.html |title=1979–80 St. John's (NY) Red Storm Roster and Stats |website=sports-reference.com |access-date=April 24, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/st-johns-ny/1981.html |title=1980–81 St. John's (NY) Red Storm Roster and Stats |website=sports-reference.com |access-date=April 24, 2021}} and Hofstra (1982–83).{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/hofstra/1983.html |title=1982–83 Hofstra Pride Roster and Stats |website=sports-reference.com |access-date=April 24, 2021}}
Professional playing career
Cluess played professionally in Europe and Australia.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
Coaching career
=High school=
Cluess was the head coach of Saint Mary's High School in Manhasset, New York for 14 seasons (1991–2005).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Cluess's Gaels won four Class A New York State Catholic High School Athletic Association (NYSCHSAA) championships{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} and two New York State Federation of Secondary Schools Athletic Associations (NYSFSSA) championships.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} However, St. Mary's played in the Class A Division, and failed to advance past the New York City representative of much stronger Class AA Division each time they attempted to advance for the right to play in the New York State Class AA Federation Tournament.
In 2004–05, Saint Mary's posted a 25–1 overall record. The lone loss came against a New York City team, Xaverian, from the class AA Division as St. Mary's once again failed to advance past New York City in the Class AA Division.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
=College=
Cluess’ first college coaching job was the 2005–06 Suffolk County Community College team that finished with a regular season record of 20–9. They appeared in their first NJCAA Division III tournament that year, winning their first two games before being eliminated in their third game and finishing the season at 22–10.{{cite web |url=https://www.njcaa.org/sports/mbkb/2005-06/releases/2006-03-13_4789.html |title=2006 NJCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship Preview |date=March 13, 2006 |website=njcaa.org |access-date=April 24, 2021}}
After one year at the junior college level, Cluess became the head coach for the Long Island University C.W. Post Campus Pioneers. He led the team to three straight first-place finishes in the East Coast Conference, including two conference tournament titles in 2007–08 and 2008–09. In four seasons at LIU-Post, Cluess led the team to two NCAA Division II men's basketball tournaments in 2008 and 2009. The 2008–09 squad finished the regular season with a record of 24–0, in route to an NCAA Division II Elite Eight tournament appearance and a 30–1 final record.{{cite web |url=https://post.liuathletics.com/sports/2018/5/31/mens-basketball-history-and-record-books-new.aspx?path=mbball |title=LIU Post Men's Basketball History and Record Books |website=post.liuathletics.com |access-date=April 24, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424222742/https://post.liuathletics.com/sports/2018/5/31/mens-basketball-history-and-record-books-new.aspx?path=mbball |archive-date=April 24, 2021}}
In April 2010 Cluess replaced Kevin Willard as the head men's basketball coach at Iona College.{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/375173-iona-hoops-hires-successful-d-ii-coach-tim-cluess-to-replace-willard |title=Iona Hoops Hires Successful D-II Coach Tim Cluess To Replace Kevin Willard |first=Jesse |last=Kramer |date=April 7, 2010 |website=bleacherreport.com |access-date=April 24, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233106/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/375173-iona-hoops-hires-successful-d-ii-coach-tim-cluess-to-replace-willard |archive-date=April 24, 2021}} Cluess' record in nine seasons at Iona was 199–108.
Just before the 2019–20 pre-season, Cluess took a leave of absence to deal with personal health issues. Associate head coach Tra Arnold took over head coaching duties for the remainder of the season.{{cite news |url=https://www.lohud.com/story/sports/college/iona/2020/01/03/iona-mens-basketball-coach-tim-cluess-still-out-maac-opener/2805600001/ |title=Men's basketball: Tim Cluess' absence to continue when Iona opens MAAC play |first=Josh |last=Thomson |date=January 3, 2020 |work=Rockland/Westchester Journal News |access-date=April 24, 2021}}
On March 13, 2020, Cluess stepped down from Iona due to his health issues.{{cite web |url=https://icgaels.com/news/2020/3/13/mens-basketball-tim-cluess-steps-down-as-mbb-head-coach.aspx |title=Tim Cluess Steps Down As MBB Head Coach |last=Beyrer |first=Brian |date=March 13, 2020 |website=Iona College Athletics |access-date=April 24, 2021}} Rick Pitino was named to replace Cluess as head coach the next day.{{cite web |url=https://icgaels.com/news/2020/3/14/mens-basketball-iona-college-names-hall-of-famer-rick-pitino-as-mens-head-basketball-coach.aspx |title=Iona College Names Hall of Famer Rick Pitino as Men's Head Basketball Coach |last=Beyrer |first=Brian |date=March 14, 2020 |website=Iona College Athletics |access-date=April 24, 2021}}
Head coaching record
=Junior college=
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Suffolk Pioneers
| conference = Region XV
| startyear = 2005
| endyear = 2006
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2005–06
| name = Suffolk
| overall = 22–10
| conference = 20–9
| confstanding =
| postseason = 2–1
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Suffolk
| overall = 22–10 ({{Winning percentage|22|10}})
| confrecord =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 22–10 ({{Winning percentage|22|10}})
| legend = no
}}
=College=
{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = LIU Post Pioneers
| conference = East Coast Conference
| startyear = 2006
| endyear = 2010
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2006–07
| name = LIU Post
| overall = 19–11
| conference = 13–7
| confstanding = 3rd
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2007–08
| name = LIU Post
| overall = 26–5
| conference = 18–2
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Division II Regionals
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| season = 2008–09
| name = LIU Post
| overall = 30–1
| conference = 18–0
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Division II Elite Eight
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2009–10
| name = LIU Post
| overall = 23–6
| conference = 18–3
| confstanding = T–1st
| postseason =
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = LIU Post
| overall = 98–23 ({{Winning percentage|98|23}})
| confrecord = 67–12 ({{Winning percentage|67|12}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Iona Gaels
| conference = Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
| startyear = 2010
| endyear = 2020
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| season = 2010–11
| name = Iona
| overall = 25–12
| conference = 13–5
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = CIT Runner-up
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2011–12
| name = Iona
| overall = 25–8
| conference = 15–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Division I First Four
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2012–13
| name = Iona
| overall = 20–14
| conference = 11–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2013–14
| name = Iona
| overall = 22–11
| conference = 17–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NIT first round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| season = 2014–15
| name = Iona
| overall = 26–9
| conference = 17–3
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NIT first round
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2015–16
| name = Iona
| overall = 22–11
| conference = 16–4
| confstanding = 2nd
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2016–17
| name = Iona
| overall = 22–13
| conference = 12–8
| confstanding = T–3rd
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference tournament
| season = 2017–18
| name = Iona
| overall = 20–14
| conference = 11–7
| confstanding = 4th
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = confboth
| tournament =
| season = 2018–19
| name = Iona
| overall = 17–16
| conference = 12–6
| confstanding = 1st
| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Iona
| overall = 199–108 ({{Winning percentage|199|108}})
| confrecord = 124–46 ({{Winning percentage|124|46}})
}}
{{CBB Yearly Record End
| overall = 297–131 ({{Winning percentage|297|131}})
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://icgaels.com/coaches.aspx?rc=748&path=mbball Iona profile]
{{Iona Gaels men's basketball coach navbox}}
{{Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cluess, Tim}}
Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia
Category:American men's basketball coaches
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball coaches from New York (state)
Category:Basketball players from Queens, New York
Category:College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
Category:High school basketball coaches in New York (state)
Category:Hofstra Pride men's basketball players
Category:Iona Gaels men's basketball coaches
Category:Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States
Category:LIU Post Pioneers men's basketball coaches
Category:Sports coaches from New York City