After 32 years of dedicated service to Suffolk University women’s basketball, longtime head coach Ed Leyden is retiring, bringing to a close one of the longest and most accomplished coaching tenures in Suffolk Athletics history.
For more than three decades, Leyden has been a constant presence on the sidelines, guiding generations of student-athletes, while helping establish Suffolk women’s basketball as a respected program throughout New England.
“It is difficult to put into words what these years have meant to me,” said Leyden. “I am incredibly grateful to Suffolk University, to all the student-athletes who trusted me, to my coaching staffs, and to everyone who has supported this program along the way. The wins are special, but the relationships and memories I have made will always mean the most to me.”
He continued, “I believe it’s the right time to pass the torch to the next leader of Suffolk women’s basketball. As the years go by, I realized how fortunate I am, how fast it goes by and to appreciate every moment. I know of no more rewarding and fulfilling job than working with young people on the basketball court as I did for years at Suffolk. In all those years, there was nothing else I would have rather be doing. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such talented and driven student-athletes.”
Leyden took over the Suffolk women’s basketball program in the 1990s and went on to build a career defined by consistency, competitiveness and a commitment to his student-athletes. During his tenure, he guided the Rams to 23 winning seasons, including four with 20-plus victories and 31 conference postseason appearances, while developing some of the most decorated players in program history.
Among the highlights of his career was leading Suffolk to a program-record 23 wins during the 2012-13 season, when the Rams advanced to the ECAC Championship game. Leyden was recognized as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year six times and was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2015.
Leyden also eclipsed the 500-win milestone Dec. 6, 2025, with a 58-46 triumph over Curry, which lands him among the winningest active/retired Division III women’s basketball coaches across the NCAA. He is the only coach at Suffolk University to achieve the 500-win feat and ends his Rams’ coaching career with a 504-328 (.606) record.
His impact extended far beyond the win column.
Leyden coached 44 all-conference student-athletes including one player of the year, two defensive players of the year and two rookies of the year. He played an integral role in the development of Suffolk’s 1,000-point scorers. He coached 13 of the program’s first 17 members of the 1,000-point club, including former Suffolk all-time leading scorer Jenni-Rose DiCecco (1,723 points).
His teams also excelled in the classroom, earning recognition among the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s top academic teams in the nation on five occasions.
More recently, Leyden guided the Rams through a new era of Suffolk women’s basketball, including the program’s transition into the Conference of New England (CNE) (formerly Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC)). During the 2023-24 campaign, Suffolk posted a 20-11 record, finished 12-4 in conference play and earned the program’s first-ever trip to the CNE tournament semifinals. It marked Leyden’s 30th season leading the Rams.
While the numbers tell the story of a successful coach, Leyden’s greatest legacy can be found in the countless student-athletes who came through Suffolk’s doors.
“Coach Leyden’s impact on Suffolk women’s basketball cannot be measured solely by wins and losses,” said Director of Athletics Cary McConnell. “For 32 years, he has invested in our student-athletes, our University and our community. He has helped generations of young women grow as basketball players, teammates, leaders and people. We are incredibly grateful for everything Ed has given to Suffolk.”
Throughout his tenure, Leyden remained committed to the team-first mentality that became a hallmark of his program. Former players have consistently pointed to his belief in their potential and his ability to challenge them to become better both on and off the court.
“I have been fortunate to coach so many outstanding young women,” Leyden said. “Every team was different, every player was different, and every season brought something new. That is what made this so special. I will always be proud to have been their coach.”
As Leyden steps away from the bench, his influence will remain woven into the fabric of Suffolk women’s basketball. The players he coached, the coaches he mentored and the program he helped build represent a 32-year legacy that will endure long after his final game.
“Ed Leyden will forever be synonymous with Suffolk women’s basketball,” said McConnell said. “We thank him for 32 years of extraordinary service and congratulate him on a remarkable career. Most importantly, we wish Ed and his family all the best in this next chapter.”
A national search is currently underway to find the next coach of the Rams’ women’s basketball program.
https://www.gosuffolkrams.com/sports/wbkb/2026-27/releases/202609042rv795
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