HACKENSACK, N.J. - He didn't throw away his shot. After being overlooked by Division I programs for more than a decade, Tobin Anderson got his chance on the banks of the Hackensack and proved he belonged, taking a 16-seed to the Second Round of the NCAA tournament and completing one of the greatest turnarounds in program - scratch that - basketball history. After taking over the 4-22 Knights, Anderson instilled a new culture, brought in his guys and in the end, coached the shortest team in Division I to a 20-plus-win season while also leading FDU men's basketball to the Knights' seventh March Madness appearance.

It was announced Tuesday that Anderson would depart the Knights to become the next head coach at Iona.

Arriving at FDU on May 3, Anderson provided a burst of energy from day one he wore Burgundy and Blue - the Truro, Iowa native hosted a practice his first night at the wheel, and again at 6 a.m. the following morning. Anderson wanted to build something special - and he did. The first-year Division I head coach was hired late in the game and he and his staff needed to get to work replacing eight scholarship players while also working with five returners to buy-in to the new way of doing business.

Turning to familiar faces, the first signees in the Anderson era were two of the most impactful players in not just the Northeast Conference, but all of Division I when it was announced on May 24 that Demetre Roberts and Grant Singleton were now Knights. That was only the beginning.

The trio served in one uniform or another for the nearly 150 collegiate games, own a postseason record of 15-5 together, including three NCAA Division II Sweet 16s and four NCAA second round appearances including 2022-23's improbable finish.

Before Anderson became the darling of Twitter, TikTok and television platforms across the nation, the one-time Division I assistant quietly got to work to reignite a dedicated fan base, connect alumni and rally support for this team. After the inaugural men's basketball Tip-Off Dinner, FDU continued to prepare for their first opponent of the season, Loyola Chicago. Airing live on ESPN+ and NBC Sports Chicago, the Knights trailed by two at the half to the 2018 Cinderella before coming back to out-score the Ramblers in what everyone thought would be the last 20 minutes of play, but the game went to overtime. Falling by six to the newest A-10 member on the road, Anderson and his staff huddled outside the locker room as they would do 36 more times over the course of the season before he walked in with an unexpected message…

“That was a great college basketball game,” he said to the team of 14.

Anderson would notch his first win at FDU two days later inside Stratis Arena against Mercy (N.Y.) before stringing together a victory over Manhattan, his first against a Division I opponent.

The early-morning film session that followed the loss to the Hawks fired up the charge for a three-game streak that included a pair of road victories including at Saint Joseph's and Columbia, another overtime classic. Returning home after an extended road trip, the Knights emerged victorious over the NJIT Highlanders. Closing non-conference play with a pair of setbacks, FDU won each of their first five conference games, including an NEC-opening victory over Merrimack, the first in program history over the now two-time NEC Regular Season Champions.

Finishing second in the NEC after being picked tied for sixth, Anderson's trio of Almonor, Roberts and Singleton earned All-NEC Honors with Almonor named the Most Improved Player - the first Knight in seven years to earn the nod.

Earning the NEC automatic qualifier, FDU bested St. Francis Brooklyn and Saint Francis U (Pa.) in the clincher, setting-up an NEC Championship Final showdown with Merrimack - the third meeting of the season. Despite falling to the Warriors in the final, FDU was still going dancing and Anderson led the Knights to the tournament. The Knights faced Texas Southern in the First Four and left with the largest margin of victory (23-points) for an NEC team in NCAA history, notching win No. 2 for FDU in the Big Dance, setting up the second-straight First Round appearance for the Burgundy and Blue. After the win over the Tigers, Anderson delivered a message to the team broadcasted live on TV.

It was said in Dayton “the more I watch them, the more I think we can beat them.” Those words echoed by Anderson came from Kam Murrell, an assistant coach. It was then that Anderson was thrust into the spotlight after picking up FDU's second NCAA tournament win as his team needed to ‘back up’ that talk and paved the way for the greatest upset in college basketball history as for just the second-time ever, a 16-seed bested a number one in Purdue. With the win, FDU became the first-ever First Four team that was an automatic qualifier to win multiple NCAA tournament games, ending with the hard-fought loss to the Owls in the round of 32. From Texas Southern, to Purdue and Florida Atlantic, there's so much to be proud of after FDU's amazing run, and Anderson's brief but impactful tenure on the banks of the Hackensack.

Tobin Anderson is a great man, a great coach and forever a part of our legacy and the rich basketball history at FDU. He didn't throw away his shot.

A successor will be announced imminently.