Chris Passmore, former director of operations for the Rhode Island women’s basketball team, has been promoted to an assistant coach for the Rams, with a contracted start date of June 2. He will replace Stephanie Tobey, who left URI to take an assistant coaching position at nearby Bryant University.
The 2013-14 season will mark Passmore’s fourth with the program, as he has spent the previous three years as head coach Cathy Inglese’s director of operations. In his new role, he will serve as the team’s post coach, overseeing the development of Rhode Island’s forwards.
"I am truly honored, humbled and excited to be able to contribute at a higher capacity to our women’s basketball program," Passmore said. "Having been around this program for the past three years, my advanced familiarity with the team, staff and University will allow me to comfortably transition into this new role and make an immediate impact."
Prior to his promotion, Passmore handled game scheduling, film exchange, coordinating team events, facility scheduling, community service and fundraising, in addition to assisting the coaching staff with other day-to-day operations.
"Coach Inglese understands what it takes to be successful and is a proven winner," Passmore added. "Working closely with her over the years, I have seen her passion to teach the game and develop our student-athletes as both people and players. I am so excited about what the future holds for URI women’s basketball as we continue to grow."
Passmore came to URI from Roger Williams University (Bristol, R.I.) where he was an assistant on the women’s basketball staff. In that role, he handled recruiting and evaluating potential student-athletes, mentoring team members and monitoring student-athlete academics. He also developed comprehensive practice plans, scouted and prepared the team for opponents via written reports and film breakdowns, and organized community service activities and fundraising. In May of 2010, Passmore was appointed interim head coach of the program, before leaving to join the Rams’ staff.
Prior to his stint with the Hawks, Passmore attended Providence College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and served as the women’s basketball team manager from 2003-07. In the summer of 2007, he organized and directed head coach Phil Seymore’s basketball camp.
After finishing his undergraduate studies at PC, Passmore remained with the Friars as a graduate assistant coach and was promoted to the position of interim assistant coach in 2007-08. He went on to earn his master’s degree in Education in the spring of 2009.
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