March 20, 2025
In the world of college sports, few roles are as unique and energetic as that of a team mascot. For St. John’s University alumnus Robert Benigno ’94CBA, ’97MBA, what started on a whim turned into a defining college experience—and a lifelong passion. Now, as the volunteer coach of Johnny Thunderbird, he shapes the next generation of performers who bring energy and excitement to Red Storm fans.
A graduate of Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station, NY, Mr. Benigno’s involvement as a mascot began during his first year at St. John’s. “I was a walk-on for men’s track and field, but the schedule became too much, so I looked for a new way to get involved on campus,” he explained. “One day, I was at a game and Johnny the Lion was performing and I said to a friend, ‘I could do a much better job than him.’ So, I asked about tryouts, got the job, and the rest is history.”
Mr. Benigno trained with the cheer squad, served as a mascot understudy for a year, and became the primary mascot after the student previously in that role graduated. In 1994, the Redmen became the Red Storm, and “Thunder” became the team’s new mascot.
“It took about nine months for them to design and build Thunder,” he recalled. “He finally came out in January of 1994, and we debuted him at Madison Square Garden against UConn. I wanted to make my entrance by being lowered from the center scoreboard, but they were concerned for my safety, so instead I came out under a cover of darkness.”
A Business Management major who later earned his M.B.A. in International Finance with a minor in Japanese, he has many fond memories of his years as Thunder, including a trip to the 1999 National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Elite Eight, as well as countless lesser-known events. “Back in those days, we had a swim team, a rifle team, and a bowling team—and I traveled around with all of them. I actually traveled to the bowling championships.”
He attended several different mascot camps, honing his skills and becoming a nationally ranked mascot. In 1996, he was awarded All-American honors.
As a mascot, he performed during the tenures of Men’s Basketball coaches Brian Mahoney, Mike Jarvis, Fran Fraschilla, and the legendary Lou Carnesecca ’50C, ’60GEd, ’00HON, with whom he shared a memorable moment.
“During an event surrounding the University’s 125th Anniversary celebration, we were making an appearance and Coach Carnesecca (who had recently retired) said to me, ‘Hey kid, I hope you got a helmet on under there, because they’re gonna kill you.’”
Mr. Benigno retired from his mascot duties in 2000 to focus on his career, despite receiving invitations to join the New Jersey Nets (now, of Brooklyn); the New York Islanders; the New York Knicks; the New York Liberty; and the Philadelphia 76ers as a mascot.
Today, he is an Information Technology (IT) consultant who works with various police and fire departments, government offices, and special projects, focusing on planning IT infrastructure, and network and server setup. He is also active in his children’s school, serving as Parent-Teacher Association president.
He returned to the mascot world in 2024 during a retro-themed St. John’s game at the Garden, where he once again donned his beloved Thunder costume. The experience reignited his interest in St. John’s mascots, and he offered to volunteer as coach of the University’s current mascot, Johnny Thunderbird.
“When I started, one student portrayed Johnny, and now we have a team of eight. We have tryouts where we see how people can move and if they are coordinated,” he explained. “It’s an even mix of male and female students. They do a lot of running and training, and are exhausted when the day is done. They all sleep very well.”
One might assume that a charismatic demeanor is an essential trait of a good mascot, but Mr. Benigno claims the opposite is true. “In my experience, introverts usually make the best mascots,” he explained. “The costume almost becomes an alter ego for them, which is great to see.”
Mr. Benigno deeply appreciates the unwavering support of Alex Hramada, Director of Marketing and Promotions for Athletics. “Alex and I have built an incredible partnership based on mutual respect and trust,” he shared. “His dedication has been instrumental in elevating the credibility of our program and showcasing the hard work of our mascot team—whose mission is to spread joy to people of all ages.”
The University has five Johnny Thunderbird costumes; during each game, two mascots rotate in and out as performers. In following the unwritten “mascot code,” the two cannot be seen simultaneously. Other aspects of the code include not speaking when in costume or identifying oneself, no one can try on the head, and the head cannot touch the floor.
“The most important thing is consistency,” Mr. Benigno explained. “Each student has to present Johnny the same way, so we do a good amount of character development. We also use a lot of hand signals to communicate. I tell them that if they are smiling inside of that costume, it’s reflected on the outside. We always say, ‘A happy face brings style and grace.’”
Only the most qualified students get to perform during high-profile games at Madison Square Garden. “Everything we do is based on timing, so if you make a mistake, the crowd will never let you hear the end of it,” he said. “It’s a very difficult job. It’s hot in there, and your sight lines are limited, so you have to be aware of your surroundings. It’s like when you ski or snowboard, you have to lay down a line and plan where you will go.”
This academic year, Johnny Thunderbird appeared at 120 events for the University and Mr. Benigno is confident that number will increase next year. As such, he’d like to grow the current eight-student roster to 12. He also has plans to have Johnny compete in the Universal Cheerleading Association National Mascot Championship Nationals.
“We definitely have mascots that are in the top tier, and now we just have to fulfill some additional requirements, such as attendance at a mascot camp,” he said.
For Mr. Benigno, the opportunity to expand Johnny Thunderbird’s presence and take the program to new heights is both exciting and nostalgic. His passion for mascots runs deep, rooted in unforgettable experiences from his time in the suit.
“So many great memories from back then, so to be able to come back and do it all over again is surreal.”