The Le Moyne College women’s basketball program has enjoyed a historical run of success in recent years, earning five consecutive postseason tournament berths. On Thursday, Assistant Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Bob Beretta tabbed Nick DiPillo as the next person to lead the program, naming the former Seton Hall, Pittsburgh and Bowling Green assistant coach, and the former Head Coach at Scranton, as new Head Coach of the Dolphins.
DiPillo, who recently completed his first season with Bowling Green, boasts over two decades of women’s collegiate coaching experience, including stints at the Division I and Division III levels, as well a five-year term with the New York Liberty in the WNBA.
“Nick’s experience and success at every stop in his coaching career makes him the ideal person to lead the women’s basketball team as they look to improve on their impressive first year in Division I,” said Le Moyne President Linda LeMura. “In addition to his coaching prowess, his time as head coach at the University of Scranton has given him an understanding of the Jesuit ethos that is so vital to the student-athlete experience at Le Moyne.”
In his only season at Bowling Green, DiPillo helped guide the Falcons to a winning record (16-15) and a postseason tournament berth in the WNIT.
After seeing the departure of four starters from the previous year’s team, the Falcons were picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Conference in 2023-24. Despite losing an estimated 126 player-games to injury, BGSU finished in a tie for fourth in the final league standings and advanced to the WNIT.
Four Falcons earned conference honors, including a pair of newcomers that joined the program shortly after the new staff arrived at BGSU.
DiPillo joined the Bowling Green staff after spending the 2022-23 season as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh.
“Following an extensive national search, we are thrilled to name Nick DiPillo as our next women’s basketball Head Coach,” said Beretta. “Nick possesses all the qualities we desired in our next Head Coach and owns a long track record of success. We believe strongly that Nick DiPillo is the perfect candidate to build on the excellence our program has achieved in recent years.
“I’d like to thank President Linda LeMura and our Search Committee for their exhaustive work throughout the process,” Beretta added. “We considered a strong pool of highly qualified candidates. In the end, Coach DiPillo clearly separated himself as the person best-suited to continue our program’s success as we progress in our transition to the Division I level.”
Prior to joining the Pitt staff, DiPillo served as head coach at the University of Scranton (a fellow Jesuit institution), where he led the Lady Royals to an overall record of 58-8 (.879) and a Landmark Conference record of 32-3 (.914). DiPillo guided Scranton to three consecutive conference championships while earning two bids to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Lady Royals advanced to the Sweet 16 in his final season with the program.
Scranton’s Sweet 16 berth capped a 27-3 season in which the Lady Royals were a perfect 14-0 mark in Landmark Conference action. The team held opponents to just 52.3 points per contest in that 2021-22 season, and a pair of players earned WBCA All-America honors.
In his first season at the helm of the Lady Royals, DiPillo guided Scranton to a 24-4 record overall, and a 12-2 league mark. His second season saw the Lady Royals go 6-1 in the conference and 7-1 overall in a 2020-21 campaign that was shortened due to COVID-19.
“I am honored to be joining the Le Moyne College community as the next women’s basketball Head Coach,” stated DiPillo. “I’ve always believed that the people are what make a place great and from the first time I stepped on campus, I knew that this was home for my family and I. Le Moyne’s ability to offer a transformative student-athlete experience as a Catholic and Jesuit institution is one of the many reasons this is such a desirable destination.
“I am incredibly grateful to President LeMura, Bob Beretta and the entire search committee for granting me the tremendous opportunity to lead this program. I look forward to leading an incredible group of student-athletes as we strive to reach new heights here at Le Moyne College.”
Prior to Scranton, DiPillo served on the women’s basketball coaching staff at Seton Hall for five years (2014-19). He began his time with the Pirates serving as the program’s director of player development before becoming an assistant coach for his final two seasons.
At Seton Hall, DiPillo played an integral role in a successful run for the Pirates as they went 94-66 (.588) across his five seasons, recording two seasons of at least 23 victories while competing in the challenging Big East Conference.
In his first season with the Pirates in 2015, DiPillo helped the squad finish 28-6 as they captured their first Big East Conference championship in program history and earned their first bid to the NCAA Tournament since 1995. The Pirates went 23-9 in 2016 and made a return trip to the NCAAs.
Over his final two seasons as an assistant coach, DiPillo helped Seton Hall earn back-to-back postseason bids to the WNIT. On the recruiting trail, DiPillo helped the Pirates sign a class ranked in the top-30 nationally in his tenure, while also signing and coaching eight All-Big East Conference selections and a pair of WBCA All-Americans.
Prior to his appointment at Seton Hall, DiPillo served as a skills trainer/camp director at the Monroe Sports Center in Monroe, N.J., for four years (2010-14).
DiPillo also has professional coaching experience, as he was an assistant coach for the New York Liberty from 2005-09. He worked with the post players and helped the team make four WNBA playoff appearances including a trip to the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals in 2008. DiPillo coached a trio of WNBA All-Stars and three Olympians while with the Liberty, including 2007 WNBA Most Improved Player Janel McCarville.
The native of North Brunswick, N.J., began his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Kean University men’s basketball team in 2003. The Cougars compiled a 34–19 record during his two-year stint and captured the ECAC Metro Championship in 2005.
DiPillo owns a great deal of familiarity with the Northeast Conference, having participated on the men’s basketball team at Fairleigh Dickinson during his undergraduate days.
DiPillo and his wife Kelsey have one son, Frank, 2, and are expecting a daughter in August. He also has a 16-year old daughter, Madelyn.
The Le Moyne Athletic Department will officially introduce Nick DiPillo as the Dolphins’ new Women’s Basketball Head Coach at a press conference on Tuesday, May 28 at 11:00 a.m. in the Events Center lobby. Media members wishing to join via Zoom are asked to please contact Craig Lane at [email protected].
Follow Nick DiPillo on Instagram and X at @NickDiPillo.
The DiPillo Docket
Coaching History
Le Moyne College – Head Coach (2024-present)
Bowling Green State University – Assistant Coach (2023-24)
University of Pittsburgh – Assistant Coach (2022-23)
Scranton University – Head Coach (2019-22), 58-8 overall record
Seton Hall University – Assistant Coach (2014-19)
New York Liberty (WNBA) – Assistant Coach (2004-09)
Kean University – Assistant Coach (Men) (2003-05)
Playing Experience
Fairleigh Dickinson University – 2001-2003
Rutgers-Camden, 1999-2001
Education
B.A., Sociology – Fairleigh Dickinson University (2003)
https://lemoynedolphins.com/news/2024/5/23/wbbDiPilloHire.aspx
Tagged with: NEC
