Following one of the most successful seasons in Eastern Michigan University women’s basketball history, head coach Tory Verdi has received a six-year contract extension that will extend his agreement through the 2020-21 season, EMU Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Wednesday, June 17. The agreement was made official at yesterday’s Board of Regents meeting.
“I want to thank President Martin, Heather Lyke, Erin Kido and the entire EMU community for their support,” said Verdi. “I’ve always said that Eastern Michigan University is a special place because of the people that work there. I am truly blessed and honored by the level of commitment, investment and support from this administration. I also would like to thank the assistant coaches and student-athletes who have helped turn this program into a championship-caliber program. Their hard work and dedication was instrumental to changing the culture and expectations, that champions are built here.”
In three seasons at the helm of the EMU women’s basketball squad, Verdi has continually improved the team each season. Overall since Verdi took over the program on April 26, 2012, he has compiled a record of 50-49; however, in his first season, the team went just 8-22. In 2013-14, the squad posted a record of 18-14 before tying a program-best 24 wins during the 2014-15 campaign when the Eagles went 24-13, including winning 17 of their final 23 games.
“Tory has done an exceptional job building our women’s basketball team in his three years at the helm,” Lyke stated. “The program is on the right trajectory and continues to improve every year. Coach Verdi and his staff are committed to recruiting the most talented students and athletes and teaching them how to compete for Mid-American Conference championships. We look forward to continued success for our women’s basketball program under Coach Verdi’s dynamic leadership.”
A large part of the Eagles’ 2014-15 record setting performance came through the Eagles late run during the regular season and into postseason play. EMU finished the regular season with wins in its final four games, while also winning seven of its last eight. The Green and White also appeared in eight postseason games, winning six of them. The Eagles advanced to the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship, winning four-of-five MAC Tournament games, before advancing to the Sweet 16 of the 2015 Postseason WNIT. The Eagles rewrote the EMU record book with 124 different all-time top performances, including the most points in a season (2,549), field goals made (936), rebounds (1,539) and three-pointers made (223).
Verdi led the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation during his second season with the Eagles, as the Green and White tied for 17th nationally on a list of most improved Division I programs. EMU finished 18-14 in the 2013-14 season with an increase of 10 wins and a nine-game improvement in overall record. Verdi also helped coach Cha Sweeney to Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and All-MAC second team honors, while Sweeney and Janay Morton were both named the to the All-Freshman squad.
In Verdi’s first year in Ypsilanti, he took on the task of rebuilding the Eagles program that returned eight letterwinners that combined for just 32.4 points per contest. Despite facing the 20th toughest non-conference schedule in the nation, the team showed progress posting an 8-22 overall and 6-10 Mid-American Conference record.
Verdi continues to build on his current successful foundation and is becoming one of the best recruiters in the MAC. In fact, in 2012 EMU was listed as the 65th-best class in the nation according to the Dan Olson’s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report. EMU was the lone MAC institution represented inside Olson’s top 70 ranked teams.
Prior to taking the reigns of the Eastern Michigan women’s basketball program, Verdi spent time coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels and had been a part of 12 teams that have participated in the postseason since the 2001-02 campaign. Verdi made coaching stops with the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska, the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), Columbia University, Western Connecticut State University, the University of Hartford and his alma mater Keene State College. While at Columbia, Verdi served as the interim head coach from February through April of 2005. He was the head assistant coach at Columbia from October 2004 until February 2005.
http://www.emueagles.com/news/2015/6/17/WBB_0617155635.aspx?path=wbball
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