Miami University Director of Athletics David Sayler announced that women’s basketball head coach Megan Duffy has inked a contract extension through the 2022-23 season.
“I am excited to announce the contract extension of Coach Duffy,” said Sayler. “Miami basketball is in great hands under her guidance. It was an exciting first season that culminated in a strong showing at the Mid-American Conference Tournament and a postseason appearance. I am eager to see the continued growth of the program and the successes that will surely follow.”
Duffy guided the RedHawks to the best win turnaround in the nation under a first-year head coach as Miami won 10 more games than a season ago to collect a 21-11 record on the year. She was one of just four rookie head coaches this season to post at least 20 wins, and the only female to do so.
The Red & White went 12-6 in Mid-American Conference play, their most wins since 2007-08. This year’s feat was particularly impressive as MU began conference play 2-5 but finished the regular season by winning 10 of its last 11.
“I cannot thank President Crawford and David Sayler enough for their commitment to women’s basketball and our staff here at Miami,” said Duffy. “It has been an honor to come in and help make impactful changes to our program, student-athletes and community. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead Miami basketball for years to come.”
When all was said and done, the ‘Hawks closed the regular season with the fourth-best record in the conference, earning them a first-round bye straight to Cleveland for the MAC Tournament. There, Miami topped rival Ohio, 69-66, to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2008. The Red & White’s run came to an end when they fell to eventual champion and Sweet 16 team Central Michigan, 61-58.
Under Duffy’s tutelage, Miami produced two all-conference performers in Lauren Dickerson and Kendall McCoy. Dickerson was tabbed First-Team All-MAC while McCoy earned All-MAC Honorable Mention.
The RedHawks improved statistically in a number of areas this season, one of the most notable being on the defensive side of the ball as they led the conference in scoring defense at 64.0 points per game.
The program’s successes this season were hardly limited to the court. Last month, Miami had a program-high eight student-athletes tabbed Academic All-MAC. This past summer, the RedHawks were named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Honor Roll after earning the sixth-best team grade-point average in the nation among all Division I schools. Most recently, the team was recognized as having the top GPA of any women’s program at Miami.
Duffy is set to bring in a talented recruiting class this fall. The early signing class from November features two in-state products in Alexis Straw and Kennedy Taylor while Vannessa Garrelts hails from Illinois. Most recently, the RedHawks signed Nia Clark to a National Letter of Intent.
Photo Courtesy MU Athletics
http://www.miamiredhawks.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/041918aaa.html
Tagged with: MAC Miami (OH)
