Amy Senefelder was named the next head coach of the Mansfield University women’s basketball team, Athletic Director Peggy Carl announced on Monday, Sept. 20.
“We’re very excited to welcome Amy to our staff,” Carl said. “The wide array of experiences she’s had as well as her enthusiasm and drive will make her an outstanding head coach for our program.”
Senefelder welcomes the challenge of rebuilding the Mountaineers, who were winners of one Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) contest in 2019-20, just two seasons removed from earning the program’s first conference postseason bid in 2017-18.
“Becoming a head coach in the PSAC has been a goal of mine for quite some time, and I am more than excited to be leading the Mansfield women’s basketball program,” Senefelder said. “From the time I stepped on campus, I could tell Mansfield was a special place with great people.”
Senefeder has shown the ability to build programs from the ground up and has experienced success at the NCAA Division II, III and NJCAA level.
“Amy is committed to excellence and will be a great mentor to the women on our basketball team,” Carl added. “Amy knows what it takes to be successful and will bring that passion and energy to Mansfield. Her ability to develop relationships and see the bigger picture is one of the things that we are most excited about.”
Senefelder join the Mountaineers after spending the previous four seasons at Division III Hilbert College, where she won 76 percent (63-20) of her games.
The Hawks were Alleghany Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Champions and earned automatic NCAA Tournament bids in each of her first two seasons. Senefelder earned AMCC Coach of the Year in 2018-19, while bringing home Hilbert College’s Sal Buscaglia Coach of the Year during her first two seasons.
The Hawks dominated in league play with Senefelder as their leader, accumulating a conference record of 47-8, while losing just one game in four AMCC Tournament appearances.
After starting the 2017-18 campaign 0-3, Senefelder led a quick turnaround that saw the Hawks winners of eight of their next nine games. That squad went on to set program records for conference (16) and overall (21) victories, while landing three players on the All-AMCC Team.
In her second season, Senefelder led the Hawks to an impressive 22-6 overall and a league-best 15-3 record. The team went on to win their second straight AMCC title to earn their second straight NCAA automatic bid. Four Hawks were named to the All-AMCC Team, highlighted by a Defensive Player of the Year to earn Senefelder her second straight Sal Buscaglia Coach of the Year Honor.
That same season, the Hawks were named to the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll after finishing the academic year with a 3.65 GPA, the second highest in the AMCC out of all sports.
In 2019-20, led the Hawks to a 20-7 overall and 16-4 league record, finishing second in the AMCC in the regular season and postseason tournament. Hilbert College also earned their first AMCC Player of the Year and D3Hoops Great Lakes All-Region Team selection during Senefelder’s tenure.
Prior to Hilbert, Senefelder served as an assistant coach at Ancilla College (2008-10), Muskingum University (2010-12) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (2012-14) before earning the head women’s basketball coach at Mercyhurst North East in 2015.
During her two seasons at the NJCAA Division II level at Mercyhurst North East, Senefelder maintained rosters of over 20 student-athletes, while brining in the largest recruiting class to date in program-history.
Senefelder, native of Knox, Ind., began her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Franklin Pierce University, where she earned her MBA in Leadership in 2009. Senefelder earned her Bachelor of Science degree in sports management from Trine University in 2005.
During her time with Franklin Pierce, the Ravens went 44-17, were the 2008 Regional Champions and reached the NCAA Elite Eight. Senefelder assisted in the development of the NE-10’s all-time leading scorer, Jo Leedham.
“I’d like to thank President Hanna, Peggy Carl and the rest of the search committee, as well as everyone who was involved in the hiring process,” Senefelder added. “I am ready to get started and take the program to the next level.”
