Men's Head Basketball Coach

Joe Niland

After back-to-back trips to the NAIA National tournament that included a run all the way to the Final Four in 2003-04, Coach Joe Niland begins his seventh season with the University of Mobile after capturing back-to-back Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championships. Not a stranger to success, Niland has posted 20-plus win seasons in eight of his 12 years as a head coach and recorded his first 30 win season during the 2004-05 season when he guided the Mobile Rams to a 30-6 record.

In six full seasons as head basketball coach at the University of Mobile, Niland's teams have posted a 135-69 (.661) record overall and a 67-35 (.657) mark in GCAC play. His 1999-2000 squad went 24-10, earning a trip to the NAIA National Tournament. In all, Niland has guided the Rams to three NAIA National Tournament appearances in six seasons, two Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament championships, and back-to-back Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season co-championships in 2003-04 and 2004-05.

Before his time at Mobile, Niland led Spring Hill College to the NAIA National Tournament on two separate occasions both in the 1993-94 season and again during 1998-99 season. During his tenure at Spring Hill, the Badgers compiled a 127-60 (.679) overall record and a 75-29 (.721) mark in the GCAC.

Niland’s younger brother, Dave, is the head basketball coach at Penn State-Behrend College in Erie, PA and his uncle, Tom Niland, coached at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY from 1947-1972 and served as the school’s Athletic Director for 45 years, retiring in 1992.

Also, University of West Virginia's head basketball coach, John Beilein, who took his 2004-05 team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, is Niland’s first cousin.

Prior to coming to Mobile and taking his first head caoching job at Spring Hill College, Niland spent three seasons as an assistant at Florida Southern College where the Mocs posted a 73-20 overall record, winning two Sunshine State Conference titles and earning two NCAA Division II National Tournament berths.

From 1988-90, Niland served as an assistant at the University of Tampa. The Spartans also won two Sunshine State Conference titles while twice appearing in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The 1988-89 Tampa team finished ranked no. 1 in the final regular-season poll.

In addition to his coaching duties, Niland also served as the Dean of Students at Spring Hill College from 1995 to 1997

As Dean of Students, Niland was responsible for the division of Student Life which oversaw the departments of Residence Life, Athletics, Health Services, Student Activities, Greek Life and Intramurals. Niland also served on the President’s Cabinet.

Niland lends his coaching expertise outside of Pharr Gymnasium as he is active in the CYO
(Catholic Youth Organization) working with the youth teams at his church, St. Dominic’s. He also coaches various AAU and youth teams.

In addition, Niland holds a number of clinics for youth coaches, including a few for the City of Mobile Recreation Department.

Niland lives in west Mobile with his wife, Ellen, and their four children: A.J., Katelin, Jake, and
Patrick.