Eighth-year women’s basketball head coach Dave Magarity announced the hiring of assistant coach Jenna McLaughlin on Wednesday morning. McLaughlin comes to West Point from NYU where she served as an assistant coach for the Violets women’s basketball program. At Army, McLaughlin will assist in player development, recruiting, scheduling and team operations, while coaching the guards and wing players.
“Jenna is a great addition to the staff,” said Magarity. “I’ve known her for a number of years after having the chance to see her at NYU and Sacred Heart and have always been very impressed with her. She comes highly recommended. Jenna brings a lot of energy to the staff and has a great understanding of this business at all levels. We’re excited to have her.”
McLaughlin, who played collegiately at Molloy College, spent the 2012-13 season on the NYU sidelines. The Violets’ season was highlighted by an upset victory over 13th-ranked Washington as well as a standout freshman campaign by Megan Dawe, who was voted UAA Rookie of the Year and ECAC Division III Metro Rookie of the Year.
“I am extremely excited to join Coach Magarity’s staff and to become a member of the West Point basketball family,” said McLaughlin. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Academy and its mission and look forward to helping the program in any way I can.”
McLaughlin, who graduated from Molloy in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in history before remaining in Long Island to pursue a graduate degree, took her first coaching assignment out of college at Sacred Heart University. The Carle Place, N.Y., native spent two seasons with the Pioneers, who went 43-20 during her stint to include an NCAA Championship bid in 2012. While at SHU, McLaughlin completed a master’s degree in teaching.
As a shooting guard at Molloy, McLaughlin led the Lions to a pair of NCAA Tournament bids, including the program’s first in 2008 after claiming the East Coast Conference title. As a graduate student in 2010, McLaughlin led Molloy to a team-record 22 wins, another ECC crown and their second trip to the NCAAs.
McLaughlin comes from a family with military history as both grandfathers served in World War II. McLaughlin’s maternal grandfather served in the Army while her paternal grandfather was in the Navy and worked on the U.S.S. Terry destroyer in the Pacific.
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