New England native and 19-year coaching veteran Tory Verdi has been named the 11th women’s basketball head coach at the University of Massachusetts, it was announced by Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford on Saturday. Verdi will be introduced and address the media at a press conference on Wednesday.
“This is a truly exciting time for our women’s basketball program with the addition of Tory Verdi as our head coach,” Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford said. “Tory has a tremendous track record of success that will be a real asset for our program as we compete for Atlantic 10 Championships. His enthusiasm for building a winning culture that promotes success in the classroom, in competition and in the community makes him a great fit for the University of Massachusetts.”
Verdi arrives in Amherst with a head coaching record of 72-61 after spending the previous four seasons at Eastern Michigan University. His teams advanced to the 2015 and 2016 Women’s National Invitation Tournament, including a Round of 16 appearance, and the Mid-American Conference finals in 2015.
An experienced coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, Verdi-coached teams have advanced to postseason play 13 of the last 15 seasons since 2001-02. Arriving in Ypsilanti for the 2012-13 season, he took an 8-22 squad to a record of 24-13 in 2014-15 and 22-12 in 2015-16. He also secured the MAC’s No. 1 recruiting class twice during his tenure.
“I am thrilled to be the head coach at UMass,” Verdi said. “I knew the day that I stepped on campus that the University of Massachusetts was a special place. UMass women’s basketball has all of the elements to build a championship-caliber program and provide an outstanding student-athlete experience. I am excited to take this program to the next level.”
Verdi spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons as the top assistant at the University of Kansas. The Jayhawks advanced to the 2012 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the 2011 WNIT Second Round.
Prior to his arrival in Lawrence, Verdi was an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska for five seasons (2005-10). The Huskers advanced to the postseason every year Verdi served on staff in Lincoln and collected the Big 12 Regular-Season Championship in 2009-10 with a 16-0 conference record.
Verdi spent the 2003, 2004 and 2005 on staff with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun and the 2004-05 collegiate season at Columbia University as the top assistant and eventual interim head coach.
A native of New Britain, Conn., Verdi earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Keene State College in 1996 and added a master’s degree in computer technology from the University of Hartford in 2003. He and his wife, Heather, are parents to Tyler, Avery and Bradyn.
http://www.umassathletics.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/040916aaa.html
Photo Courtesy UMass Athletics
Tagged with: A-10
