St. Bonaventure Head Coach Mark Schmidt to Retire After 19 Seasons

Schmidt led the Bonnies to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and a historic run in the NIT

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After 19 seasons as the head coach of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team, Mark Schmidt announced his retirement effective at the end of the 2025-26 season. Schmidt, who is 63 years old, led the Bonnies to multiple NCAA Tournament berths and a deep run in the NIT, restoring the program to prominence after a period of struggles prior to his arrival in 2007.

Why it matters

Schmidt's retirement marks the end of an era for the St. Bonaventure basketball program, which he helped revive and transform into a consistent winner in the Atlantic 10 Conference. His 19-year tenure included several memorable postseason runs and the development of numerous standout players, cementing his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in school history.

The details

When Schmidt took over the Bonnies in 2007, the program was in disarray, coming off a postseason ban and struggling to win games. But he quickly turned things around, guiding the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade in 2012 and leading them to the NIT semifinals in 2022. Over his 19 seasons, Schmidt compiled a 338-233 record, the most wins by any coach in St. Bonaventure history.

  • Schmidt announced his retirement on March 7, 2026.
  • He will coach the Bonnies through the 2026 Atlantic 10 Tournament before officially stepping down.
  • Schmidt has been the head coach at St. Bonaventure for 19 seasons, taking over the program in 2007.

The players

Mark Schmidt

The head coach of the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team since 2007, leading the Bonnies to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and restoring the program to prominence.

Andrew Nicholson

A former St. Bonaventure star player who was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Year in 2012 before being drafted by the NBA.

Jaylen Adams

A standout guard who played for the Bonnies from 2014-2018, helping lead the team to a historic 26-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2018.

Matt Mobley

Another key player during St. Bonaventure's 2018 NCAA Tournament run, playing alongside Jaylen Adams.

Jalen Adaway, Jaren Holmes, Kyle Lofton, Dom Welch, Osun Osunniyi

A talented group of players who led the Bonnies to the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament titles in the shortened 2020-21 season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm 63 years old and it's time to move. My family has sacrificed for 37 years. It's time for me to give back a little bit. If I'm just known as coach Schmidt, then I haven't lived the life I should have lived. The University has been terrific.”

— Mark Schmidt, Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (midmajormadness.com)

“When I first got the job, I remember somebody telling people that it was a [career-ending] job and I was only going to be here for 3-4 years before selling insurance. That didn't happen. … I think what we've done is pretty good. Restoring this program back to being incredible.”

— Mark Schmidt, Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (midmajormadness.com)

“[Early on] it was always difficult to get to St. Bonaventure but the opponent knew once they got there they were going to kick our asses. After a couple years, that stopped.”

— Mark Schmidt, Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (midmajormadness.com)

“In my 19 years, people always ask 'Why do you stay?' You can't put it into words, you've gotta see it, and once you see it, you'll believe it. That's what Bonaventure is. The basketball program is it here in Olean and Allegany. It's the heartbeat. I've been really lucky to be the head coach for this many years and I'm proud of what we've accomplished. But [more so] proud about how we've gone about it.”

— Mark Schmidt, Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (midmajormadness.com)

“In basketball, when you go to sleep, the last thing you think about is the team and when you wake up in the morning it's the first thing you do. It's consuming. I'm tired of that. As I told the team, I want to travel, spend time with my family, play golf, and drink beer without any consequences. I couldn't have asked for a better 19 years.”

— Mark Schmidt, Head Coach, St. Bonaventure (midmajormadness.com)

What’s next

Schmidt will coach the Bonnies through the 2026 Atlantic 10 Tournament, which will be held in Pittsburgh, before officially retiring.

The takeaway

Mark Schmidt's retirement marks the end of an era for the St. Bonaventure basketball program, which he helped revive and transform into a consistent winner in the Atlantic 10 Conference. His 19-year tenure included multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, a historic run in the NIT, and the development of numerous standout players, cementing his legacy as one of the most successful coaches in school history.