The Arcadia University Department of Athletics and Recreation has announced the hiring of Jackie Hartzell as the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
“Coach Hartzell is a demonstrated leader with deep ties to the local region,” Executive Director of Athletics Brian Granata said. “She has a burning desire to win but also does a tremendous job establishing relationships with student-athletes and supporting their progress academically. We are excited to welcome her into the Arcadia Athletics community and look forward to her leading our program in the years to come.”
Hartzell comes to Glenside after eight highly successful seasons leading the women’s basketball program at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. While with the Devils, Hartzell’s teams produced a 186-57 record (.765) and earned five trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, including making it to the Sweet 16 in 2018. In the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC), Hartzell’s squads were even more dominant, producing a 123-28 record (.815), winning three conference championships, and earning a berth into the CACC Tournament every season.
Defense has been the calling card of Hartzell’s teams. The Devils have been in the top-10 in scoring defense five seasons in a row, and were the NCAA statistical champion last year. Hartzell’s teams also found success in the classroom, making six straight WBCA Academic Top 25 rankings. The Devils were one of only two Division II programs to earn a spot in both the WBCA Coaches Poll and Academic Top 25 from 2018 to 2020.
“I am extremely grateful to be the next women’s basketball coach at Arcadia University,” Hartzell said. “I would like to thank Athletic Director Brian Granata for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I look forward to this new and exciting challenge and can’t wait to meet with the players to begin our foundation of success.”
Individually, Hartzell is a four-time CACC Coach of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020), as well as the 2017 Philadelphia Coaches Conference Collegiate Coach of the Year, 2018 Hero Sports Division II National Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, and 2019 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) East Region Coach of the Year.
Prior to her time with USciences, Hartzell spent five seasons as the Varsity Girls’ Basketball Coach at Archbishop Ryan, where she accumulated a 78-49 record (.614), including a PIAA District 12 AAAA Championship and a berth in the PIAA State Finals. Hartzell also served as a coach at Archbishop Wood and Saint Hubert, as well as in AAU with the Mid-Atlantic Magic and the Northeast Rockers.
Hartzell also was named the Athletes Helping Athletes Person of the Year in 2011 for going above and beyond in her leadership, dedication, and support for the special needs community.
Hartzell is no stranger to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC), having earned a degree in business administration from Delaware Valley in 2005, where she was a four-year letter winner for the Aggies. Hartzell was named to the MAC All-Academic team three times and was named to the Lehigh Valley Small Schools All-Academic Team as a senior. Hartzell received a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University in 2013.
