St. Francis College introduced John Thurston as the new head women’s basketball coach after serving the past two seasons as associate head coach. Thurston replaces Brenda Milano who resigned after completing her ninth season leading the Terriers. Milano went 58-201 during her tenure.

Thurston brings a wealth of experience to the sidelines in Brooklyn Heights. He is one of only a few coaches who have been a Head Coach at the NCAA DI, DII, DIII and NAIA levels in 26 years of coaching men’s college basketball from 1971-1997. During the early 1970’s, his Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham teams were known for their high scoring offense, averaging almost 100 points per game.

During the following ten years as an assistant and three as Head Coach at James Madison University, the Dukes went to four NCAA tournaments and one NIT. For his tremendous efforts in the 1986-87 season, Thurston was named the Colonial Athletic Association "Coach of the Year."

In nine years at Wingate University he served the dual role of Athletic Director and Head Basketball Coach and is credited with moving the athletic department from NAIA status to nationally competitive NCAA DII affiliation.