Melissa Kuberka as its next head women’s basketball coach. Kuberka, who became just the third head coach in Fisher’s storied history, comes to Fisher after having recently served as head coach at Hilbert College in Buffalo.
“I’m excited by this rare opportunity to be at Fisher and to be part of a basketball program with such a special tradition, stated Kuberka. “I’m thankful to Bob Ward for giving me this chance and am ready to begin preparing for this upcoming season.”
Kuberka spent the previous two seasons on the sidelines at Hilbert where she helped build the Hawks into one of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference’s top programs in a short period of time. Prior to her arrival in 2015, Hilbert had won 14 total games over a five year stretch, but, under Kuberka’s direction, the team posted back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins. During her first season on the bench, the Hawks tied a program best in wins and set a new mark in conference play with seven victories. Last season, she guided the team to the AMCC Conference Championship for just the second time in program history and first since 2006.
The Orchard Park native mentored a pair of All-Conference selections over the last two seasons and was instrumental in the development of Kelsi Ebert who led the team and was among the conference leaders at 16.3 points per game during the 2016-17 campaign.
Under Kuberka’s guidance, Hilbert ranked third in its conference in opponents points per game last season and ranked second in the AMCC in offensive rebounding at nearly 16 boards per contest.
“Coach Kuberka is an outstanding young coach,” added Bob Ward, Fisher’s Athletic Director. “Her former coaches and employers speak glowingly of her work ethic, intelligence, being a consummate team first person, leadership qualities and being a highly ethical person. I see Melissa’s future as a coach and employee of the College being extremely bright. I am very excited to work with her.”
A standout Division III student-athlete in her own right, Kuberka was a member of the SUNY Geneseo women’s basketball team for four seasons where she helped lead the Knights to 78 wins and an appearance in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship in 2011. Kuberka, who graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, still ranks 15th all-time in career scoring with 1,042 points in 110 games and is fifth in career rebounds with 733. Kuberka was named All-SUNYAC in both her junior and senior seasons and took home Player of the Year honors in 2013.
Kuberka, who received a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Buffalo, also brings a wealth of experience coaching in the AAU ranks and was appointed head coach of the women’s lacrosse team at Hilbert where she guided the Hawks to new heights en route to being named the AMCC Coach of the Year.
Her teams consistently performed well in the classroom and earned the AMCC Team Peak Performer Academic Award after compiling a team grade-point average of 3.28.
“I have a lot of confidence in the players who are returning and in the incoming freshmen class,” continued Kuberka. “The players have a focused mindset and I am eager to work with them.”
Women’s basketball will begin its 44th season on Friday, November 17 at the McDaniel Tip-Off Tournament against Christopher Newport in Westminster, Md.
http://athletics.sjfc.edu/news/2017/9/18/kuberka-hired-to-lead-womens-basketball-program.aspx
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