November 25, 2025; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; St. Bonaventure Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt reacts during the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Suncoast Credit Union Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Image St. Bonaventure basketball coach Mark Schmidt announced Saturday that he will retire at the end of the season.
He is in his 19th season coaching the Bonnies and has compiled a record of 339-254. This is the most wins by a coach in program history. He has taken St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Tournament three times and has a 1-3 record, including a First Four win over UCLA in 2018.
Schmidt, 63, was hired by St. Bonaventure in 2007 after spending six seasons as head coach at Robert Morris.
“I am a lucky man. It is an honor to have been the head coach of St. Bonaventure for 19 years,” Schmidt said. “When I first got the job, I remember someone telling me I was going to be here for three or four years, and then I was going to sell insurance. I give Steve Watson and Sister Margaret Carney all the credit in the world for taking a chance on me 19 years ago. A man who was 82 or 90 at Robert Morris allowed me to coach and build a program, which I think was a pretty good thing.”
The Bonnies are 15-16 (4-14 Atlantic 10) after losing a 68-63 decision to Davidson in Saturday’s regular season finale. The A-10 Tournament begins Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
“Mark is one of the most important figures in St. Bonaventure history and has a lasting impact on our program and the university,” said Bob Beretta, vice president and director of athletics. “Mark will forever be considered one of the most distinguished individuals in the history of St. Bonaventure’s storied basketball legacy. The legacy that Mark has authored is truly remarkable.
“I want to congratulate Mark on his stellar coaching career. We are infinitely grateful for all he has done to return the St. Bonaventure basketball program to national prominence. Mark Schmidt will long be remembered as one of the legendary figures in St. Bonaventure basketball, and the impact Mark and his wife Anita had on the community was equally transformative. They will be missed but never forgotten.”
The Athletic reported Saturday that Adrian Wojnarowski, a former ESPN NBA insider and general manager of the program who transferred to his alma mater in 2024, is “expected to play a significant role” in selecting the next coach. The report speculated that Wojnarowski’s next coach could come from the NBA or G League, given his ties to the professional game.
St. Bonaventure announced that a national search for its next head coach will begin immediately.
–Field level media
