Matt Abdelmassih (pronounced Abdel-massey) comes to Nebraska after spending the past four seasons at St. John’s, where he recruited all five starters on the 2018-19 team, including two-time, first-team All-BIG EAST selection Shamorie Ponds. He also helped St. John’s land a consensus top-25 recruiting class in 2016, featuring Ponds and junior college transfer Bashir Ahmed. Prior to joining the Red Storm staff, Abdelmassih was at Iowa State from 2010-15, spending his last four seasons as an assistant under Fred Hoiberg. Abdelmassih was instrumental in making Iowa State one of the primary destinations for some of the top transfers in the country, including All-Big 12 performers DeAndre Kane and Royce White, the No. 16 overall selection in the 2012 NBA Draft. Abdelmassih visited with Brian Rosenthal of Huskers.com for this QnA about his history with Hoiberg, his recruiting philosophy and his future at Nebraska.

BR: What are your first impressions of Lincoln?

Matt: “Incredible people. They used to call it ‘Iowa Nice,’ so I’ll just say ‘Nebraska nice.’ Just welcoming people. It’s great to be back. It’s great to be back where the air is cleaner. I probably gained a few years back on my life those first 12 hours I was back in Lincoln. But my impressions are ridiculous facilities; clearly the excitement of having a coach like Fred to come in is something special. I think the people here appreciate that and are excited about that, as they should be. For me personally, it’s go time, and you’ve got to get to work. It’s a long road in front of us, but one that you embrace and you’re excited about.”

BR: This has surely been a whirlwind for you, this whole process, but when did Fred contact you, and what decisions did you have to make? How difficult was leaving St. John’s?

Matt: “Well, we talk. We’ve been away from each other for four years, because he went to the Bulls and I went to St. John’s. But we talked all the time over those four years. When he got let go, he always talked about options and what could be next, whether this place or that place fit. For me personally, it was extremely difficult to leave St. John’s. It’s home. It’s a place I love. It’s my alma mater. When you care for something as much as I care for St. John’s, it hurts. I was filled with mixed emotions getting on the plane to come. I grew up a St. John’s fan, going to the Garden, watching St. John’s play. To be able to work there four years though, I was grateful. I was grateful for an opportunity to play a role in us getting to the tournament. It’s a dream come true hearing your name called. But very difficult. It will take me a while to get over. I’m leaving behind some incredible players that trusted and believed in me, and that hurts. I’m leaving behind lifelong friendships.”

BR: How far back does your relationship with Fred go? How did you first connect?

Matt: “So it goes back 11 years. We worked with each other with the Timberwolves for two years, and then when he got the Iowa State job, I went with him there. He was in my wedding. He’s a great friend, his family is family to me.”

BR: What impresses you about Fred?

Matt: “Just the intelligence that he has. He’s a guy who works extremely hard at this craft. You always respect that. He’s a guy who’s a student of the game, even though he’s reached the pinnacle of what you want to achieve as a coach. He’s never stopping the learning that he can grow as a coach, and as a person. At the end of the day, when you get to work for a friend more than a boss, that’s always extremely special.”

BR: You’re regarded nationally as a big-time recruiter. How did you earn that label, and what values and traits do you that you believe make you a good recruiter?

Matt: “Just being genuine, I think, is the most important thing. When you’re genuine and you treat people with respect, and you foster a relationship by trust, that’s what’s led me to be able to build really strong relationships, which has helped me get to this point. And ultimately, I’m fortunate enough to have a job and work for a guy I really like, a friend. When you have that, it makes your job easier. Because you believe. I was fortunate enough to work for Chris Mullen, who you believe in, and you work hard for. Those are all special things that make your job easier.”

The New York native spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Iowa State, and now rejoins Fred Hoiberg at Nebraska.