A Jersey Guy: BC Doesn't Even Win in Jesuit Hoop Battle

As a Jesuit school, BC has more restrictions than many public schools, but since Al Skinner was fired in 2011, and using only urban Jesuit schools for comparison the Eagles have still come up short.

If there was a turning point in the BC basketball program it is when the administration made the decision to fire Al Skinner, the winningest coach in school history, 10 years ago.

Gonzaga is the runaway winner in this grouping, becoming a major college basketball power from a Mid-Major conference (West Coast Athletic Conference).

BC, however, finishes a distant 15th in a 16 team grouping of urban  Jesuit schools, topping only Fordham.

 School       Record              Winning Pct.        Winning seasons (from 2010-11 through the 2021)

1. Gonzaga 338-31                  87%   No losing seasons

2. Creighton 249-123              67%  One losing season

3. Xavier   230-126                   65%  One losing season

4. Marquette 230-126              65%   One losing season

5. St. Louis  213-136                61%      4 losing seasons

6.  Loyola (Chicago) 198-147   57%    4 losing seasons

7.  San Francisco 200-147      77.6 %   2 losing seasons

8. Georgetown 199-147         57%      4 losing seasons

9. Santa Clara 173-172           50%   5 losing seasons

10. Canisius 166-173              49.1%   6 losing seasons

11. Saint Joe's (Pa.)  162-180  47%      6 losing seasons

12. Loyola Md.      149-173    46%       8 losing seasons

13. St. Peters      157-188       45.5%      7 losing seasons

14. Holy Cross    149-192        43%       7 losing seasons

15. BC   131-211                       38%       9 losing seasons

16. Fordham  109-215           34%     10 losing seasons.

It should be noted that BC President Father William Leahy has provided the most stability at the top, beginning his tenure at BC in July 1996.

Father Leahy has also had connections with three of the above mentioned Jesuit schools. He received his degrees (undergraduate and Masters from Saint Louis and  came to BC from Marquette, where he was an Executive Vice President.

It should also be noted that in Leahy's first 14 seasons at BC, when Jim O'Brien and Skinner were the basketball coaches, BC's overall record was 249-174.

Since BC fired Skinner, the slide has all been down hill for Eagle’s basketball.