Ken Fiedler coached Springfield Gardens to the PSAL championship 21 years ago, but he doesn’t take much credit for it.

“The reason we won that title is because of Norm Roberts,” Fiedler, now retired, said of St. John’s new coach. “You could see he had the makings of a great coach because he didn’t have the most talent, but he was our point guard and he was only interested in making everyone else better. He knew how to win.”

Roberts’ only other head coaching job was at Queens College in the early ’90s, yet those who know him are confident he can clean up the mess on Utopia Parkway.

“He’s going to be a breath of fresh air,” said Molloy head coach Jack Curran, who spoke with St. John’s president Father Donald J. Harrington on Roberts’ behalf last week. “It’s a major gamble because a lot of people might not have any idea who he is, but he’ll be able to handle everything.”

Curran gave Roberts his first coaching position after he left Queens College. Roberts was Molloy’s freshmen coach and Curran’s assistant for three years.

“He’s always been great with kids and been able to relate to them,” Curran said from his hotel room in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where he is coaching Molloy’s baseball team. “And I know he’s going to have the support of the community, so he’ll be able to keep some of the New York City players that St. John’s hasn’t been getting lately.”

Former head coach Mike Jarvis was criticized by many throughout high school and AAU circles for a failure to connect with local players and coaches.

One who got away was Rice’s Russell Robinson, whom Roberts recruited to Kansas out of Maurice Hicks’ program.

“Norm’s a great guy, he’s very straightforward,” said Hicks, who could be a candidate for an assistant’s job on Roberts’ staff. “He’s got connections with everyone around here. I know he made a great impression with Russell right away.”

Roberts had started to work on Cardozo junior Theo Davis, who plays for St. John’s alumnus Ron Naclerio.

“I think it’s good to have a local guy,” Naclerio said. “He obviously knows what he’s doing and he’s well-liked and respected around here.”

Winning attitude

With the exception of a head-coaching stint at Queens College, new St. John’s coach Norm Roberts has been part of a winning program throughout his career.

Here’s a look at the records for Roberts’ teams, compared to St. John’s for the same periods:

Years Roberts’ School Record St. John’s Record (Coach)

1991-95 Queens College * 24-84 (.222) 64-53 (.547) (Carnesecca, Mahoney)

1995-97 Oral Roberts 39-16 (.709) 24-30 (.444) (Mahoney, Fraschilla)

1997-00 Tulsa 74-27 (.733) 75-27 (.735) (Fraschilla, Jarvis)

2000-03 Illinois 78-24 (.765) 55-40 (.579) (Jarvis)

2003-04 Kansas 24-9 (.727) 6-21 (.222) (Jarvis, Clark)

TOTALS: 13 seasons 239-160 (.599) 224-171 (.567)

* head coach