Entering her fifth year at the helm of the program, Pitt women’s basketball head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio announced changes to her staff for the 2017-18 season Wednesday.
After joining the Panthers as director of video services and program development for the 2016-17 season, Amadou Koundoul will now serve as assistant coach.
“Pape [Koundoul] brought a new dimension to our staff last year and we are excited about what’s to come,” McConnell-Serio said. “His experience and knowledge of the game will continue to be great assets for us.”
Koundoul, who is known as “Pape” (pronounced “pop”), returned to Pittsburgh in 2016 after spending 2014-16 as athletic director and head basketball coach at T2 Honors Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior coaching experience includes stints at Seattle University (2012-14), Duquesne University (2011-12), Centenary College of Louisiana (2009-10), Branch West Recruiting (2008), Saint Stanislaus College (2008-09), Summit College Prep (2007-08), Stoneridge Prep (2006-07) and Cleveland State University (2005-06).
April Robinson, who served as the team’s graduate student manager in 2016-17, has been promoted to director of video services for the Panthers.
“We’re excited to have April as part of our staff, having coached her in college and having her as our graduate manager for a year,” McConnell-Serio said. “She is very knowledgeable about the game and as our director of video she gets to see our game from a different perspective. She is always eager to learn and help make our team better.”
Following a decorated four-year playing career across town at Duquesne, Robinson capped an illustrious senior season by being named the 2016 Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player of the Year, All-A10 first team and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. The 5-foot-8 guard led the Dukes with 14.9 points and 6.4 assists per game and was named a national finalist for the 2016 Nancy Lieberman Award.
New to the staff is Wumi Agunbiade, who will serve as the team’s graduate student manager. The Pickering, Ontario, native comes to Pitt following a three-year professional playing career overseas. The 6-foot-2 forward played for McConnell-Serio at Duquesne for three seasons, from 2010-13, where she finished her college career as the Dukes’ second all-time leading scorer with 1,776 points. She is the only player in Duquesne history to score 1,700 points and record 900 rebounds. She led the class of 2014 to 88 wins, tied for best all-time at Duquesne. Agunbiade will pursue a MBA at Pitt while managing duties with the women’s basketball staff.
“I’m excited that Wumi has decided to start her career in coaching as our graduate manager,” McConnell-Serio said. “She was a great player and I think our players can learn a great deal from her experiences, having played professionally, and having played for me.”
Photo Courtesy Pitt Women’s Basketball
http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2017/9/13/pitt-womens-basketball-announces-staff-updates.aspx
Tagged with: ACC Pitt Suzie McConnell-Serio
