Former St. John's basketball GM Matt Abdelmassih denies any wrongdoing
Matt Abdelmassih, left, shown an assistant for the St. John’s Red Storm on Feb. 11, 2017. Credit: Steven Ryan
Matt Abdelmassih, the general manager of the St. John’s men’s basketball program who was fired this week amid questions about his financial transactions in the role, said in a statement on Wednesday that everything he did was “within the parameters I was given.”
“During my two-and-a-half years in the role, I operated honestly and transparently, working within the parameters I was given, with one clear goal: putting together a roster capable of returning St. John’s to the top tier of college basketball,” the statement read. “College sports is in a complicated moment, and I took on that challenge with professionalism, care, and accountability.”
As Newsday first reported, St. John’s had placed Abdelmassih on administrative leave in mid-December and the school has been examining his handling of finances on behalf of the program. Red Storm athletic director Ed Kull and Abdelmassih both confirmed to Newsday on Tuesday evening that he was no longer employed by the university.
“Look, it's never good to see people go, but in the eyes of the university it was very warranted,” St. John’s coach Rick Pitino said after the Red Storm’s 92-68 win over Marquette Tuesday night at the Garden.
As general manager, Abdelmassih helped Pitino and the staff identify talent that could be available in the NCAA transfer portal and then handled all negotiations with the player, his family and his agent to land commitments. He was St. John’s representatives in negotiations to get commitments.
Pitino added that he was told four days earlier to hire a new general manager and said, “They said to me, ‘Don't ask any questions.’ I said, ‘OK — I’ll look for [a GM].’ It's really not a big deal.”
Abdelmassih’s connections with the university go back to when the 2007 grad was a student manager for coach Norm Roberts. He returned as a member of the staff for coach Chris Mullin and again for Pitino.
“I’m a proud St. John’s alum,” he said in the statement. “Coming back to Queens wasn’t just a job for me. This place is part of my DNA, and I approached the role with that responsibility front of mind every day . . . Having my time end this way, and in a manner that doesn’t reflect my work or values, is deeply difficult for me, especially at a place that has meant so much personally and professionally.”
He mentioned that he was especially proud of the 2024-25 team he helped build that won 31 games and the Big East regular season and tournament championships.
“I leave with my head held high, grateful to the players, coaches, staff, alumni, and fans who shared in the journey,” his statement concluded. “I’ll always root for St. John’s, and I’m focused now on my family and the next chapter of my career.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
