May 14, 2002, Jamaica, NY -- St. Johns University Vice President for Development and Athletics Dave Wegrzyn introduced Kim Barnes Arico as the seventh head womens basketball coach in the 28-year history of the program today at Alumni Hall.

Barnes Arico comes to the Red Storm after a successful run at Adelphi University where she took the Panthers to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season with a 28-3 record.

St. Johns is a wonderful place and Im very excited to be here. The University has a lot to offer me and perspective student-athletes, so I am excited about the future, Barnes Arico said Tuesday at a press conference in her honor.

Joined by her husband Larry, their nine month old son Trevor and Kims parents Maureen and George, Barnes Arico spoke of her commitment to the St. Johns program.

I plan to build a solid foundation and surround the program with positive people, Barnes Arico added. I cant wait to get started and get out into the community to build on the rich tradition of St. Johns basketball.

Barnes Arico brings a six-year head coaching record of 94-72 after stops at Adelphi (65-24 .730 winning percentage), New Jersey Institute of Technology and Fairleigh Dickinson University-Madison where she turned around all three programs.

She has also been named Coach of the Year three times (1999, 2000 and 2002) by the New York and New Jersey Collegiate Coaches Associations.

We have chosen the best candidate to lead us into the future in Kim Barnes Arico, Wegrzyn stated. She has the poise and leadership we were looking for and Im confident Kim will bring St. Johns back the success we enjoyed in the 1980s.