Carnegie Mellon Hires New Men’s Basketball Coach

Pittsburgh is welcoming a new head basketball coach to the college hoops scene in the Steel City.

On Wednesday, Carnegie Mellon announced the hiring of Justin Simon as head men’s basketball coach of the CMU Tartans.

“Justin is a tremendous fit for Carnegie Mellon,” CMU A.D. Josh Centor said in a press release. “His deep commitment to student-athlete development and his experience with championship programs make him the right person to lead our men’s basketball program into the future. This is an exciting moment for Tartan Basketball, and I am thrilled to welcome Justin and his family to our community.”

Simon comes to Pittsburgh after spending the last 13 years at Yale, most recently serving as associate head coach. According to his Yale profile, Simon was a part of five Ivy League Regular Season Championship teams at Yale and three NCAA Tournament teams. He now takes the helm after legendary head coach Tony Wingen retired after last season (his 34th).

Simon played at Yale for longtime head coach James Jones. Following his playing career, “Simon spent time as science teacher and coach at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, as well as time working in the financial services industry,” according to Yale’s website.

“I want to thank Dr. Centor and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead the Tartan Men’s Basketball program,” Simon said in the press release. “It is an incredible honor to lead a program at a school as prestigious as Carnegie Mellon. This is a place that values excellence and integrity, both on the court and in the classroom.”

“I have the utmost respect for Tony Wingen’s dedication to this program and university,” Simon said. “To follow someone who poured so much of himself into this job is an honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I look forward to packing the Highmark Center and leading a program that aspires to compete at the absolute highest level of Division III Basketball. I can’t wait to get started. Let’s get to work!”