University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball head coach Lance White announced the addition of Nick DiPillo as assistant coach on Tuesday afternoon. DiPillo brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Panthers after serving as a coach at the professional and collegiate levels for the past 19 seasons.
“Nick brings a wealth of experience at the college and professional level,” stated White. “He is a fantastic recruiter and has a tireless work ethic. I think he is one of the best teachers in the country and will immediately impact the way we play on the offensive end of the floor. I couldn’t be happier to have Nick join our team.”
DiPillo most recently served as head coach at the University of Scranton where he led the Lady Royals to an overall record of 58-8 (.879) while also posting a Landmark Conference record of 32-3 (.914) across three successful seasons at the helm. He led Scranton to three straight Landmark Conference championships while earning two bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament including advancing to the Sweet 16 this past season.
“I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity to join Coach White’s staff at Pitt,” expressed DiPillo. “This program has a world of potential, can offer a championship level experience on and off the court and is on the cusp of doing some great things. I’m so thankful and excited to have the chance to impact the program and contribute to its growth.”
He helped lead Scranton to a 27-3 overall record and a perfect 14-0 mark in Landmark Conference games in 2021-22. The Lady Royals were known for their defense as they held opponents to just 52.3 points per contest last season en route to their sixth appearance in the last eight years in the Sweet 16. Following the successful campaign, Scranton had a pair of players earn WBCA All-America honors.
In his first season at the helm of the lady Royals, DiPillo guided the team to its fifth straight Landmark Conference Championship with a 63-42 victory over Catholic. Scranton posted a 24-4 record (12-2 Landmark) during the regular season including a 12-game winning streak from January to February.
Prior to Scranton, DiPillo served on the women’s basketball coaching staff at Seton Hall for five years (2014-19). He began his time with the Pirates serving as the program’s dire tor of player development before becoming an assistant coach for his final two seasons.
At Seton Hall, DiPillo played an integral role in a successful run for the Pirates as they went 94-66 across his five seasons while also notching two seasons with at least 23 victories while competing in the challenging Big East Conference.
In his first season with the Pirates in 2015, DiPillo helped the squad finish 28-6 as they captured their first Big East Conference championship in program history and earned their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since the 1995 season. The Pirates returned to the NCAA Tournament in 2016 as they posted a record of 23-9.
Over his final two seasons as an assistant coach, DiPillo helped Seton Hall earn back-to-back postseason bids to the NIT. On the recruiting trail, DiPillo helped the Pirates sign a class ranked in the top-30 nationally in his tenure, while also signing and coaching eighth All-Big East Conference selections and a pair of WBCA All-Americans.
Prior to his appointment at Seton Hall, DiPillo served as a skills trainer/camp director at the Monroe Sports Center in Monroe, NJ for four years (2010-14).
From 2005-09, DiPillo was at the highest level of women’s basketball in the world as he served as an assistant coach for the New York Liberty in the WNBA. DiPillo worked with the post players and helped the team make four WNBA playoff appearances (2004, 2005, 2007, 2008) including making the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals during the 2008 season. He also coached a trio of WNBA All-Stars and three Olympians while with the Liberty, including 2007 WNBA Most Improved Player Janel McCarville.
DiPillo began his coaching career in 2003 at Division III Kean University. In two seasons, he helped the Cougars achieve a 34-19 overall record while earning the 2005 ECAC Metro Championship.
DiPillo was a member of the men’s basketball team at Fairleigh Dickinson, graduating in 2003 with a degree in Sociology. DiPillo and his wife Kelsey just welcomed their first son, Frankie, to the family last month. He also has a 14 year-old daughter, Maddy.
Photo Courtesy Pitt Athletics
Tagged with: ACC D3 Pitt Scranton
