Bio
• A 2004 SJU graduate, Pat McKenzie is in his 11th season as head coach of the Johnnies in 2025-26.
• He became the 15th head coach in the 113-year history of Johnnie basketball on April 15th, 2015, and replaced Jim Smith who retired following 51 seasons at SJU.
2024-25 Season
• McKenzie led SJU (25-4, 15-1 MIAC) to its 12th MIAC regular-season championship (fourth in the last six seasons) and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament with a 74-59 win over Carleton for the program's fourth MIAC Playoff championship in the last six tournaments (ninth overall). The national postseason appearance was the Johnnies' 22nd (13th at the Division III level) and fifth in the last seven seasons. SJU ended the season ranked No. 13 in the final D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. The 20-win season was the Johnnies' 16th overall and sixth in the past nine seasons. Three of SJU's four losses were decided by four points or less.
2023-24 Season
• McKenzie led SJU to its 11th MIAC regular-season title in program history and fourth in the last six seasons (no MIAC season in 2020-21) in 2023-24. The 20-win season was also the Johnnies' 15th overall and fifth in the past eight seasons. Four of the Johnnies' six losses were decided by three points or less. SJU finished as the NCAA Division III leader in shooting percentage (.516) and three-point percentage (.409), and fourth in free-throw percentage (.804). He was named the MIAC Men's Basketball Coach of the Year for the third time of his career.
2022-23 Season
• Saint John's basketball (17-10, 13-7 MIAC) recorded 10 home wins or more for the fifth-consecutive (full) season, finished second in the conference and reached the MIAC Playoff championship game for the fourth-straight tournament (and fifth in the last six) in 2022-23.
2021-22 Season
• The Johnnies (23-5, 17-2 MIAC) won their second consecutive MIAC regular-season championship (10th overall) and third consecutive MIAC Playoff title (eighth overall) in 2021-22. SJU made its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in a row and ended the regular season ranked No. 24 nationally.
2019-20 Season
• He led SJU to a 27-2 record (19-1 MIAC), which tied the program record for single-season wins (1978-79), its ninth MIAC regular-season title, seventh MIAC Playoff championship and third consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2019-20. The Johnnies advanced to the third round (Sweet 16) of the NCAA Tournament, but the season abruptly ended with the NCAA's cancellation of all winter and spring championships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 27 wins served as the program's 13th 20-win season.
2018-19 Season
• McKenzie led SJU to a 23-5 record (17-3 MIAC), the MIAC Playoff championship, and second consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2018-19.
2017-18 Season
• SJU became just the sixth team to tally a 19-1 MIAC record or better in 2017-18 and was the eighth team to win the regular-season title by four games or more since the league moved to a 20-game conference schedule in 1983-84. The Johnnies won 16 consecutive games during the 2017-18 season, their longest win streak since they won 27 straight in 1978-79.
2016-17 Season
• The Johnnies posted a 19-9 record (13-7 MIAC) and earned their 24th trip to the conference playoffs, advancing to the MIAC Playoff Championship game for the first time since 2006-07, during McKenzie's second season as head coach in 2016-17.
2015-16 Season
• SJU finished third in the MIAC with a 13-7 record (19-8 overall) and earned its 23rd trip to the conference playoffs in McKenzie's first season as head coach.
Past Experience
• McKenzie served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Jim Smith for nine seasons from 2006-15. The Johnnies recorded the second-most wins (110) in conference play during McKenzie's nine-year tenure as an assistant. He coached 14 All-MIAC first-team selections and the team finished fifth or better (out of 11 teams) in the MIAC standings eight of the nine seasons.
• As a collegiate player, McKenzie manned the point-guard position as a four-year letter-winner for the Johnnies from 2000-04. He led the MIAC in assists as a senior and was a member of the Johnnies' NCAA Division III Sweet 16 team as a freshman in 2000-01. McKenzie is currently seventh in SJU history with 305 career assists.
• McKenzie returned to Collegeville after two seasons as director of basketball operations at Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay from 2004-06.
Personal
• McKenzie's father, Pat '79, was a point guard on four national-tournament teams at SJU from 1975-79 and younger brother, Kevin '14, also played point guard for the Johnnies from 2010-14.
• McKenzie and his wife, Jillian (CSB '09), reside in Sartell, and have two daughters, Evelyn and Margaret, and a son, Patrick.
| Pat McKenzie's Record at SJU |
| Year |
Overall |
Pct. |
MIAC |
Finish |
Notes |
| 2015-16 |
19-8 |
.704 |
13-7 |
T-Third |
|
| 2016-17 |
19-9 |
.679 |
13-7 |
Fourth |
|
| 2017-18 |
23-4 |
.852 |
19-1 |
Champions |
NCAA |
| 2018-19 |
23-5 |
.821 |
17-3 |
Second |
NCAA |
| 2019-20 |
27-2 |
.931 |
19-1 |
Champions |
NCAA |
| 2020-21 |
3-4 |
.429 |
2-3 |
|
|
| 2021-22 |
23-5 |
.821 |
17-2 |
Champions |
NCAA |
| 2022-23 |
17-10 |
.630 |
13-7 |
Second |
|
| 2023-24 |
20-6 |
.769 |
18-2 |
Champions |
|
| 2024-25 |
25-4 |
.862 |
15-1 |
Co-Champions |
NCAA |
| 10 Seasons |
199-57 |
.777 |
146-34 |
5 MIAC Titles |
5 NCAA Appearances |
