Hofstra University is located in Hempstead, New York, on Long Island, about 25 miles east of Manhattan. The campus sits at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, and spans roughly 244 acres in Nassau County.
Founded in 1935, Hofstra grew from the estate of William Hofstra, a lumber merchant whose Long Island property became the foundation for the university. The school has grown into a mid-sized private research university with over 10,000 students across its undergraduate and graduate programs, offering degrees in law, medicine, business, and the liberal arts.
The Pride compete in the Coastal Athletic Association. Head coach Speedy Claxton, a former NBA point guard and Hofstra alum, is in his fifth season leading the program after taking over as the 13th head coach in school history on April 7, 2021.
The David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex and Program History
Hofstra plays its home games at the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, commonly called “The Mack,” a 5,023-seat arena that opened in January 2000 as Hofstra Arena before being renamed in 2006. The facility at 245 Hofstra University in Hempstead houses both the men’s and women’s basketball programs and features full chair-back seating, a state-of-the-art scoreboard, and locker rooms.
The Pride have a notable relationship with Madison Square Garden, going 10-9 all-time at The Garden and winning the Holiday Festival tournament there in 1998, 1999, and 2006. Those runs gave the program genuine national exposure at college basketball’s most famous arena.
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Claxton has led Hofstra to its fifth all-time NCAA Tournament appearance in 2026. The Pride qualified by winning the CAA Championship, earning an automatic bid to the Big Dance. Junior guard Cruz Davis was the conference Player of the Year, averaging 20.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 39.9 percent from three. Freshman Preston Edmead was named the CAA Rookie of the Year and scored a team-high 26 points in the title game.
Notable Alumni and Current Standing
The most famous Hofstra basketball alumni include Claxton himself, who played for the Pride from 1996 to 2000 before an NBA career that included stops in San Antonio, Golden State, and New Orleans. His college success and NBA pedigree made him a natural fit to lead the program.
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Hofstra entered the 2026 tournament against Alabama, a significant test for a program still building its postseason resume. The Pride carry a 0-4 all-time record in the Big Dance entering this appearance, which gives the 2026 team a chance to make genuine program history with a first-round win.
The program’s trajectory under Claxton signals something real. Two NCAA Tournament trips in five seasons, a conference Player of the Year on the roster, and a growing national footprint from Hempstead, Long Island, give the Pride program a foundation that would have seemed unlikely just a decade ago.
