John McGinty Selected as Next USF Women’s Basketball Head Coach

University of St. Francis and director of athletics Dave Laketa have announced John McGinty as the new head coach for the Fighting Saints women’s basketball program. McGinty will take over a program that has advanced to the NAIA National Tournament each of the past six seasons.

“First I just want to thank Dr. Johnson, Director of Athletics Dave.Laketa, the search committee, and team for giving me this phenomenal opportunity to lead this women’s basketball program,” remarked McGinty. “Id also like to thank all those coaches and mentors who I have worked with who have helped me get this opportunity.” 

“I am very honored and thrilled to be chosen as the next head women’s basketball coach at USF! From the first conversation with the search committee, I knew the university’s vision and values were in alignment with what I was looking for. There has been such a rich tradition of success laid down by Coach Quigley and Brooks. I am looking forward to building upon it.”

McGinty most recently was an assistant women’s basketball coach at Loyola University Chicago. There, he was part of a Rambler program that saw a two-win improvement in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) last season, which included beating reigning MVC tournament champion Bradley and rival Valparaiso on the road for the first time in program history. Additionally, the program made a trip to the MVC semifinals and the Women’s College Basketball Invitational for the first time.

“John has been a long-time follower of our team and league (Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC)), including being at our 2020 conference tournament championship game against Saint Xavier, so he has a solid pulse on what it takes to be successful both in the conference and nationally,” stated Laketa.  “He also likes the fit of coaching at the small-college level after having experienced coaching at the top level of college women’s basketball.

“As a devoted Catholic, John’s also a fit in terms of the core values that he brings to the table and how they align with our mission and values.”

“Put that all together and we are looking forward to having him serve and mentor the young women in our program and guide them to success both on and off the court and for their future.”    

Before his stint with Loyola, McGinty served as the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Northwestern Ohio. There, he recorded the best winning percentage in the last three years of the program with eight of the 14 players on the roster being first-year players. He also helped guide the team to the best win in program history, beating #14 ranked Siena Heights. McGinty also mentored a trio of All-WHAC selections.

Prior to taking over as head coach at Northwestern Ohio, McGinty enjoyed a successful stay as an assistant coach at Northern Illinois University.  During his time in DeKalb, Ill., the Huskies posted three straight seasons of .500-or-better records, highlighted by a 21-12 (12-6 Mid-American Conference) mark in 2016-17 that saw the program make its first postseason appearance in over 20 years.  McGinty orchestrated an attack that averaged a MAC-best 85 points per game that year, a mark that ranked fifth nationally.  Northern Illinois’ 66 wins during his tenure were the program’s most over a four-year period.  He also helped numerous student-athletes earn All-MAC honors during his time there.

McGinty broke into the college coaching ranks at Lewis University in Romeoville, Ill., serving as an assistant coach for two seasons after spending the 2012-13 campaign as a practice player while pursuing his master’s degree.  He was on the bench for a successful 2014-15 season that saw Lewis climb to No. 1 in the USA Today/WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. The Flyers ultimately finished 31-3 overall and 17-1 in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, setting a new league record in the latter category.  Lewis went on to win its first regional title in program history and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

McGinty, who resides in Chicago with his wife, Catherine, earned his bachelor’s degree in health and sport sciences from the University of Iowa in 2012 and completed a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Lewis University in 2015.

https://gofightingsaints.com/news/2021/7/19/john-mcginty-selected-as-next-usf-womens-basketball-head-coach.aspx