Kris Saulny enters his second season as an assistant coach with the Iona University men's basketball program in 2026-27 after helping guide the Gaels to an 18-win campaign during his first season in New Rochelle.
In his debut season at Iona, Saulny played an integral role in player development, scouting, recruiting, and game preparation. He helped mentor CJ Anthony to All-MAAC Second Team honors while contributing to a program that exceeded expectations and established a strong foundation for future success.
Saulny joined the Gaels following three impactful seasons on the coaching staff at the University of Pennsylvania, where he helped develop multiple All-Ivy League performers and contributed to one of the conference's most consistent programs.
During his time at Penn, Saulny played a key role in the development of several standout student-athletes. In his first season, Jordan Dingle earned Ivy League, Philadelphia Big 5, and ECAC Player of the Year honors while finishing third nationally in scoring. The Quakers finished third in the Ivy League standings and remained in contention for the conference title throughout the season. In 2023-24, Clark Slajchert became the program's 42nd 1,000-point scorer and earned First Team All-Ivy recognition, highlighted by Penn's 76-72 victory over then-No. 21 Villanova, the program's first win over a ranked opponent since 2018. During Saulny's final season in Philadelphia, Sam Brown earned All-Ivy honors after a breakout sophomore campaign.
Prior to Penn, Saulny served as a graduate assistant coach at George Washington University during the 2021-22 season under Jamion Christian, with a primary focus on the Colonials' defensive development and scouting efforts. He began his coaching career at California Lutheran University, spending two seasons on the staff at the Division III level.
A native of Washington, D.C., Saulny played collegiately at Widener University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration Management and Marketing in 2019. He later completed a master's certificate in Management and a Quantitative Business Foundations certificate from the University of Pennsylvania.
