The Ithaca College men’s basketball team hired its new head coach Mike McSloy on June 17, replacing Waleed Farid. McSloy is inheriting a program which just won its second-ever Liberty League Championship Tournament in February, their first being in February 2020.
McSloy was previously the head coach for the Drew University Rangers for three seasons. After an up and down 13-12 season in 2022-23, he led the Rangers to consecutive 20-win campaigns in 2023-24 and 2024-25. In the 2024-25 season, they went 24-4, including a 16-game winning streak and an NCAA tournament appearance where they were knocked out in the first round.
Now, McSloy attempts to keep the Bombers in contention for another Liberty League championship and perhaps something more. For the near future, the Bombers head to Western New England University for a game at 4 p.m. Nov. 22. After the break they will host University of Rochester at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
McSloy sat down with Contributing Writer Tate Mosher to discuss what it is like inheriting a winning team and what he brings to the program personally.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Tate Mosher: How is it different coming to a school like Ithaca that has a winning program in place already, versus having to rebuild the program like you did when you were at Drew?
Mike McSloy: Yeah, I don’t think they had a long history of success. They had never been to the NCAA tournament. So everything we did last year at Drew was a first for the program. Here at Ithaca, I think … it’s a challenge, but I think a challenge that you welcome, understanding that … they’re coming off a great season. There are expectations within the program internally, but I think the best way to manage that is you just [have] to take it one day at a time … last year is last year. Our next game is our next game, but we have to be super present and be focused on today and trying to get the most out of our guys come practice tonight.
TM: What’s the process been like as far as familiarizing yourself with your new players’ skill sets is concerned, and how you think that will translate on the court as the season goes on?
MM: First and foremost, [I’ve been] trying to build relationships with each of the guys … being very mindful that … they weren’t recruited by me. They had the idea of coming to Ithaca to play for somebody else. So I’m definitely empathetic to that. Trying to … build relationships with those guys in terms of on-the-court skill sets. [I’m] trying to quickly understand … where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and how we best can utilize [the players].
TM: What are your thoughts on being the underdog versus being the favorite?
MM: I don’t really, honestly, look too much into whether or not we’re an underdog or whether or not we’re the favorite. I definitely like to maintain … an underdog mentality, to always think that … we have to put our best foot forward, to always think we’re going to get the other team’s best shot. And I think if we do that, then I think the results can take care of themselves.
TM: How do you think that you will make an impact on the program?
MM: My goal, God willing, is to be here for a long time. So … trying to build a program that’s going to have sustained success over the course of my tenure [is the goal]. I think in the immediate … I’m just trying to help alongside [assistant coach Mike] Sasso, trying to create an environment that the players want to be a part of. And that’s … coming to practice every day, being excited, coming to games, ready to compete and then also, too, from a recruiting standpoint, trying to bring in quality players who are also really good people, who are really good students, who will be great representations of not only our basketball program, but more importantly, the Ithaca College community.
TM: The Bombers won their first Liberty League championship since 2020 [earlier this year]. How do you get back there?
MM: [I’m going] to be honest, I’m not even thinking about how we get back to a championship. I mean, that game is not going to be played until February. It’s November. It sounds simple and kind of understated, but … we need to have a great film session tonight. Our guys need to have a good lift [before practice]. We need to have a really good practice. I kind of always say … all we have is today’s practice, there’s nothing else that’s guaranteed. So, if we don’t take care of business today, then anything thinking of anything like a championship or anything down the road … is kind of meaningless.
TM: What’s something that you want to improve on in your coaching this season, and then going forward at IC?
MM: I think the biggest thing is … you never have all the answers. I don’t know everything about basketball. I don’t know everything about this school and the program. I don’t know everything about our guys individually. I’m just trying to constantly learn, trying to be a lifelong learner. And … that’s an ever-evolving process, just trying to get better at my craft every day.
TM: Is there any kind of identity you can see with the team?
MM: That’s still a work in progress right now, but I think we’re going to be [intensive]. I think we’re going to be a team that shows a lot of fight, has a lot of character that plays together. [In the game against SUNY Brockport] we got punched in the face early. We were down [19-3 early, but] we were able to come back and take the lead in the second half. That shows our group has a lot of resolve and looking forward to building upon that.
