Chicago State University athletics announced today that Corry Irvin has been named head coach of the women’s basketball team. Irvin brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Cougars, featuring a 26-year career throughout various levels of basketball.
The Elgin, Illinois native’s most recent role as assistant coach at Mississippi State University saw her help guide the Bulldogs back to the NCAA Tournament in her first season at MSU after a three-year hiatus. Her leadership, coupled with her extensive recruiting prowess, contributed to the team’s success, including a top-ranked class in 2023.
Irvin has deep roots in basketball across the state of Illinois. Prior to her tenure at Mississippi State, she served as head coach at Saint Xavier University, leading the Cougars to back-to-back Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships with a record of 46-8 (.851) and 32-1 (.969) in the CCAC. Her remarkable coaching career also includes an illustrious stint at Whitney Young High School in Chicago, where she solidified the Dolphins as a powerhouse where she had a career record of 449-77 (.854) and won three Illinois State Championships (2008, 2012 and 2014) during her 18-year tenure.
“We are thrilled to welcome Corry to the Chicago State family,” said Dr. Monique Carroll, Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Chicago State. “Her extensive experience in Division I basketball coupled with her ties to the city of Chicago make her the ideal candidate to lead our women’s basketball program to new heights.”
Irvin got her start in coaching as an assistant on Doug Bruno’s staff, the legendary DePaul coach,, where she helped the Blue Demons win a combined 36 games over three seasons (1999-2001). Irvin led DePaul’s recruiting efforts and oversaw the team’s preseason workout programs during her stint in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood
Irvin played collegiately at Fresno State following a legendary career at Larkin High School in Elgin. At Fresno State, she appeared in 107 games and was named an All-Western Athletic Conference Honorable Mention in 1995-96. She concluded her Bulldog career ranked No. 10 in program history in made field goals (360), No. 9 in rebounds (510) and No. 5 in blocked shots (55).
As a standout prep athlete, she concluded her high school career as Larkin’s all-time leader in rebounds and blocked shots, while also ranking second in scoring. Irvin was the 1992 Courier News Player of the Year and a 2007 inductee into the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame as a player.
Irvin earned her bachelor’s degree from Fresno State in 1996. She holds two master’s degrees from the University of Phoenix in curriculum development (2008) and special education (2010).
