At the recommendation of the search committee, Saint Francis University President Rev. Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R. named Joe Haigh the head coach of the Red Flash women’s basketball program on Wednesday afternoon. Haigh, who has spent the past four seasons as the top assistant on former coach Susan Robinson Fruchtl’s staff, becomes the seventh head coach in the program’s 45-year history. The Red Flash reclaimed its status as a small-college dynasty during Haigh’s time in Loretto, compiling an impressive 47-25 record against Northeast Conference opponents over the past four seasons. In 2009-10 and 2010-11, the Flash earned its two most recent NEC titles and NCAA Tournament berths.

A 14-year coaching veteran at the collegiate, high school and club levels, Haigh worked primarily with wing players under Robinson Fruchtl and also served as recruiting coordinator.

Prior to his arrival in Loretto, he spent two years (2006-08) handling the daily administrative duties as the Director of Basketball Operations at Virginia Commonwealth University, which included coordinating and planning all basketball summer team and skills camps, team travel, as well as overseeing film exchange, the recruiting database, academic affairs and video editing.