RIT Executive Director of Athletics Jacqueline Nicholson announced Melissa Kuberka has been named Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball team. 

With more than nine years of experience in basketball leadership roles at the collegiate level, Kuberka travels across town to take the reins at RIT following a seven-year run at St. John Fisher which included four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, four Empire 8 conference championships and six regular-season titles.

“It is an exciting day for the RIT Women’s Basketball program,” said Nicholson. “Melissa quickly rose to the top of a strong pool of applicants during our national search with a proven record of success leading student-athletes on and off the court at a high level. Her passion for basketball and her ability to use the game to enhance the overall student-athlete experience with a focus on graduating leaders of character let me know our program is in good hands.”

Kuberka compiled a 146-35 (.807 W%) record during her time at St. John Fisher, including a 92-11 (.893) mark in Empire 8 play. She guided the Cardinals to four of the last five E8 Championships, including their third-consecutive title this past winter, while also playing in the previous six E8 Championship games.

Kuberka won her first of three Empire 8 Coach of the Year awards after guiding the Cardinals to a 21-7 record and an NCAA Tournament berth to cap the 2019-20 campaign. Following a COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, she led St. John Fisher to a 26-3 record in 2021-22, including a 15-1 conference mark, for the team’s winningest season in 27 years. 

Kuberka matched the win total the following year, finishing 26-3 with an undefeated 18-0 Empire 8 record en route to D3hoops.com East Region Coach of the Year recognition. She most recently directed her 2023-24 squad to a 24-5 record and a first-round NCAA Tournament win for the third-consecutive campaign.

Kuberka mentored 2023-24 Empire 8 Player of the Year and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American Sidney Tomasso last season. She also coached three E8 Defensive Player of the Year honorees and two E8 Rookies of the Year during her tenure. Twenty-two players garnered E8 All-Conference on Kuberka’s watch, including 10 first-teamers.

Continued Nicholson, “We wanted someone committed to recruiting locally, regionally, in the state and nationally. We wanted someone who could connect with our student-athletes and engage positively with the university and the Rochester community. We wanted a winner. We have found that person in Melissa”.

Kuberka previously served as Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Hilbert for two seasons. She led the Hawks to the most wins in program history during her first season on the sidelines, finishing the 2015-16 campaign with an 11-14 record, before putting together an 11-15 campaign the following year, including the team’s first postseason contest in 11 seasons.

Kuberka graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 2013 following a decorated playing career. Named the 2013 SUNYAC Player of the Year and an Honorable-Mention All-American, she was a starter on the Knights’ 2011 SUNYAC Championship squad that made the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 14 seasons. The two-time all-conference selection currently still ranks 16th in program history with 1,042 points, fourth with 115 blocked shots, fifth in free-throw percentage (75.9), sixth with 733 rebounds, eighth in three-point percentage (34.1) and 10th with 295 assists.

Also a standout in the classroom, Kuberka was named the 2013 SUNY Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award winner, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in biology with minors in psychology and environmental studies. She went on to earn a master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University of Buffalo in 2016 and also completed an MBA in 2021 during her time at St. John Fisher. 

“I am grateful for my experiences working with some great mentors and colleagues at St. John Fisher and for the growth it has afforded me,” said Kuberka. “However, I could not be more thankful to Jackie Nicholson for this opportunity at RIT. Former coach Amy Reed laid a strong foundation to build on and I’m excited by the passion and vision for success in the department.

“I am also excited to have the opportunity to coach student-athletes of this caliber, knowing the valuable education that they are receiving, while also working to provide them wholistic growth through basketball. I am ready to get to work navigating the new challenge of coaching in the Liberty League and building RIT back into a contender on the national stage. I am thankful to be here and excited for the future of RIT basketball!”

Kuberka begins her head coaching duties at RIT in June. 

The Kuberka File
St. John Fisher – Head Coach
2023-24 – 24-5 (14-2 E8) –  Empire 8 Champions, NCAA Tournament Regional Finals
2022-23 – 26-3 (18-0 E8) – Empire 8 Champions, NCAA Tournament Regional Finals, E8 Coach of the Year
2021-22- 26-3 (15-1 E8) – Empire 8 Champions, NCAA Tournament Regional Finals, E8 Coach of the Year
2020-21 – 9-3 (6-1 E8) – Empire 8 Tournament Final
2019-20 – 21-7 (12-2 E8) – Empire 8 Champions, NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinals, E8 Coach of the Year
2018-19 – 19-8 (12-4 E8) – Empire 8 Tournament Semifinals
2017-18 – 21-6 (15-1 Empire 8) – Empire 8 Tournament Final
Seven Seasons – 146-35 (92-11 E8)

Hilbert – Head Coach
2016-17 – 11-15 (8-10 AMCC) – AMCC Tournament Quarterfinals
2015-16 – 11-14 (7-11 AMCC)
Two Seasons – 22-29 (15-21 AMCC)

Career 
Nine Seasons – 168-64

https://ritathletics.com/news/2024/5/9/melissa-kuberka-named-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx

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