Bleacher Report Story - Top Coaches Under The Age Of 40

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Fairfield University men's basketball coach Sydney Johnson was selected as one of the top 10 college basketball coaches under the age of 40 by Bleacher Report. Johnson was picked fourth on the list of 10 coaches and was the only selection from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).

Johnson has enjoyed a great deal of success since coming to Fairfield University, leading the Stags to 41 wins and a pair of postseason berths in his two seasons. The Stags advanced to the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament semifinals in 2011-12, and came back to make the tournament following a successful 2012-13 campaign. Fairfield posted 22 wins in Johnson's first year and added 19 more victories in his second season.

Success has followed his players as well with four former Stags signing professional contracts over the last two seasons. Following the 2011-12 campaign, Rakim Sanders inked a deal to play in Israel while Ryan Olander headed to Lithuania to continue his playing career. This summer, Derek Needham, who played in China with a US All-Star Team, also signed a contract to play in Lithuania, followed by Colin Nickerson being drafted in the second round of the National Basketball League of Canada.

Johnson will lead his Stags into a challenging 2013-14 campaign that includes a third straight appearance in a national tournament. Fairfield will participate in the 2013 Naismith Hall of Fame Tip Off, playing in the bracket with the University of Louisville, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Richmond. Fairfield will host the University of Hartford and the College of the Holy Cross at home before heading to the Mohegan Sun Arena on November 23rd for its matchup with Louisville. One day later, the team will play either North Carolina or Richmond depending on the game results from November 23rd. The Stags also played in the 2011 Old Spice Classic in Orlando as well as the 2012 NIT Tip Off Tournament.

Tickets for the Naismith Hall of Fame Tip Off as well as season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Fairfield University Athletic Ticket Office at (203) 254-4136.