Immaculata University Director of Athletics, Patricia Canterino, announced the hiring of Chrissy Esbensen as its women’s basketball head coach Monday morning.
Esbensen replaces Canterino, who stepped down as the women’s basketball head coach after 15 years on the Mighty Macs sideline. Esbensen, a 2013 graduate of Immaculata University, becomes the ninth women’s basketball head coach of the program since the Mighty Macs won three-straight national titles in 1972-73-74.
“I am excited to have one of my former players taking over as the head women’s basketball coach,” Canterino said. “Chrissy has great passion for the game, and has been very instrumental in the success of our program over the years both as a player and as an assistant coach.”
“I am so honored and humbled by this opportunity to be the head coach at my alma mater,” Esbensen said. “Both Immaculata University and the women’s basketball program have become such an integral and memorable part of my life, and I hope to create that same positive experience for the student-athletes I coach.”
Esbensen was promoted to the head coaching position following a two-year stint as Canterino’s assistant coach. Esbensen has been instrumental in the success of the Mighty Macs program over six seasons as both a player and coach, helping Immaculata to reach the postseason five times, including three Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) runner-up finishes.
“I am grateful to follow in the footsteps of a coach (Canterino) who taught me hard-work, dedication, and persistence in reaching my goals,” Esbensen said.
The Royersford, Pa., native played all four years at Immaculata under Canterino, earning All-CSAC second team honors on three different occasions. During her first season in 2009-2010, Esbensen was named the CSAC Rookie of the Year.
Esbensen, who was a four-year starter for the Mighty Macs starting 104 of 105 games during her career, helped Immaculata reach the CSAC Championship Game in 2011, and the conference semifinals in both 2010 and 2012.
She currently ranks third all-time in scoring with 1,276 points and stands fifth in assists with 442. She also posted 356 rebounds, 261 steals and 14 blocks during her career. She was named to the 2009 Bryn Mawr Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, 2010 Swarthmore Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, 2011 Bahamas Sunshine Shootout All-Tournament Team, and 2012 Jim Crawley All-Tournament Team.
In her four years as a Mighty Mac player, Esbensen was a model student-athlete. In addition to her success on the court, she was a three-time CSAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team selection as she earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications.
http://gomightymacs.com/news/2015/8/3/WBB_0803152053.aspx
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