Head Women's Basketball Coach At Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, known for its excellence in academics and athletics. Notre Dame's women's basketball team has become one of the most successful programs in the country under the leadership of their head coach, Muffet McGraw. In this article, we will take a closer look at the career and achievements of the head women's basketball coach at Notre Dame.
Muffet McGraw's Early Life And Career
Muffet McGraw was born Ann O'Brien on December 5, 1955, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. She grew up in the nearby town of West Chester with her four siblings. McGraw was an outstanding athlete in high school, excelling in basketball, field hockey, and lacrosse. She attended Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, where she played basketball and graduated with a degree in sociology in 1977.
After college, McGraw started her coaching career as an assistant at Archbishop Carroll High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania. She then spent four years as the head coach at Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, before moving on to serve as an assistant coach at Lehigh University and the University of Notre Dame.
McGraw's Tenure At Notre Dame
Muffet McGraw became the head women's basketball coach at Notre Dame in 1987. She inherited a struggling program, but quickly turned it around. In her second season, she led the Fighting Irish to their first NCAA tournament appearance, and they have made it to the tournament every year since then.
McGraw's coaching philosophy emphasizes defense and teamwork. She has developed many players who have gone on to successful professional careers, including Ruth Riley, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Arike Ogunbowale. McGraw has also been a strong advocate for women's basketball and gender equality. In 2019, she made national headlines for her comments on the lack of female representation in leadership positions in sports.
Notable Achievements
Under Muffet McGraw's leadership, the Notre Dame women's basketball team has achieved tremendous success. They have won two national championships (2001 and 2018), appeared in nine Final Fours, won 14 conference championships, and have had 31 consecutive winning seasons (as of 2020). McGraw has been named National Coach of the Year three times (2001, 2013, and 2014) and has been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Future Of Notre Dame Women's Basketball
Muffet McGraw announced her retirement from coaching on April 22, 2020, after 33 years at Notre Dame. Her successor, Niele Ivey, is a former Notre Dame player and assistant coach who has been on staff with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. Ivey is excited to lead the Fighting Irish and build on the success of McGraw's tenure. She has a lot of work to do, as the team lost several key players to the WNBA draft in 2020, but Ivey is confident in her ability to develop new talent and keep Notre Dame at the top of women's college basketball.
Conclusion
Muffet McGraw's career at Notre Dame was nothing short of remarkable. She turned a struggling program into one of the most successful in the country and became a strong voice for women's sports. Her legacy will live on for years to come. We wish her all the best in retirement and look forward to watching Niele Ivey continue the tradition of excellence at Notre Dame.
