The head coaching position of the reigning America East (AE) champion, Stony Brook, still remains vacant. After registering a 192-155 record in 11 seasons at SBU, which includes earning four AE regular season titles and guiding the Seawolves to their first-ever AE postseason title and NCAA tournament berth, Steve Pikiell left the helm of the program in order to become the head coach at Rutgers on March 22. The Stony Brook athletic department announced that it would be conducting a national search for its next head coach, which has been ongoing for the past 16 days.

Regardless of who is at the helm, Stony Brook may be due for a step back next season. After recording five straight seasons of 20 wins or more, SBU will lose guard Carson Puriefoy and forwards Jameel Warney and Rayshaun McGrew to graduation. All three were members of an AE All-Conference team the last two seasons.

According to multiple reports, one candidate rumored to be in the mix at SBU is Pikiell’s former associate head coach Jay Young. Young served on Pikiell’s staff for all of his 11 seasons at Stony Brook and was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Warney, the three-time AE Player of the Year. Warney has drawn NBA interest and could potentially be picked in June’s draft. Young was also in the mix to become the next head coach at Central Connecticut State, but former University of Connecticut star and NBA player Donyell Marshall was hired to that position. However, according to a report by Jerry Carino of the Asbury Park Press, Young has agreed to join Pikiell’s staff at Rutgers, meaning that he is unlikely to be hired by SBU. According to that report, Stony Brook’s search has focused on coaches who are currently assistants at high-major programs.