BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Upon being formally introduced as Canisius College's new men's basketball coach, Jim Baron looked into the stands of the Koessler Athletic Center to see a younger version of himself smiling directly back at him.

"Hey, that's a good looking picture up there you have," he said earlier this week, pointing to a student holding up a placard with an oversized picture of Baron's face attached to it. "Who is that guy?"

Baron is easily recognizable in western New York, a region where he is best known for his playing and coaching days at St. Bonaventure. And while at 58, his hair is a little grayer and thinner, Baron's mission at Canisius is a familiar one.

Much like he did in reviving the Bonnies in the 1990s, during a nine-year stretch in Olean, N.Y., that included an NCAA tournament berth in 2000, Baron is now being asked to do the same some 90 miles north in Buffalo. That's where he takes over a small-school program — and its rich 107-year basketball tradition — that's spent more than a decade relegated to an afterthought both nationally and even locally.

It's been 12 years since the Golden Griffins enjoyed their last winning season, a stretch in which they've gone a combined 114-217, and 60-138 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference games.

"It's unfortunate," Baron said of the program's recent past. "Whether it's chemistry, whether it's players: That's the unfortunate part of the business. But it creates an opportunity."

Baron's arrival on campus has created an opportunity for a fresh start. And it's one not lost on school officials, who are using his hiring as a chance to inject new life into the program with an increased commitment of financial support.

School president John Hurley has already gotten the ball rolling by approving the addition of two new positions on the basketball staff by reintroducing the role of director of basketball operations and adding an administrative assistant. There's also an intention to increase the recruiting budget and spend more money on hiring assistant coaches.

As Hurley put it, "the stakes are raised" because of the importance the basketball team is to the school and its alumni, and how difficult the past decade has been.

"I've got to confess, I've shared (alumni's) frustration as we've been unable to get any real traction in this program," Hurley said. "When I'm on the road fundraising or visiting with alumni, they all want to talk about the basketball program. And frankly, after a while, you start to wonder, 'Am I losing credibility by saying we're committed to getting this thing right?'"

The school is also counting on Baron's hiring to increase financial support from its alumni to further boost the athletic department budget in helping put Canisius on par with other MAAC schools.

Canisius' renewed commitment comes in part from Baron's input during the interview process before he signed a five-year contract.

"I think they understand how important it is," Baron said. "And let me tell you, it's important to me because I told them, 'I can't do this alone.'"

Baron's no stranger when it comes to rebuilding.

He did it at St. Francis, Pa., where he led the Red Flash to their one and only NCAA tournament berth in 1991. At St. Bonaventure, Baron took over a team that had won 22 games in its previous three years and led the Bonnies to four postseason berths.

In 2001, Baron then left for Rhode Island, where he enjoyed six 20-win seasons and led the Rams to six NIT berths in 11 years before being fired in March after a 7-24 finish.

Baron's background and familiarity with the region allows Canisius to attain an instant measure of credibility. During his inaugural news conference, Baron listed off numerous names of current and former high school coaches he's worked with, and also looked forward to enjoying chicken wings at the Anchor Bar, just down the road from Canisius, as well as having dinner again at a popular downtown Italian restaurant.

For athletic director Bill Maher, Baron's name immediately jumped to the top of his list of candidates after Tom Parrotta was fired last month after a 5-25 finish and after going 64-121 over six seasons.

"This is an important hire for our institution," athletic director Bill Maher said. "We want to be able to bring a championship to Canisius College. St. Bonaventure has done it. Niagara has done it. Buffalo has done it. And there's no reason why Canisius can't be in the same breath or should not be in the same breath."