Holy Family University has named Bernadette Laukaitis ’00 its new head women’s basketball coach as announced by Director of Athletics Tim Hamill. Laukaitis becomes the program’s sixth head coach in its 33-year history.
“I can’t think of anyone better to lead our women’s basketball team and take the program to the next level,” said Hamill. “I’m happy to welcome Bernadette back to Holy Family where she was a standout player and began her coaching career as an assistant. She brings a ton of knowledge and experience with her after spending close to two decades with one of the top coaches in the area in Mike McLaughlin. Bernadette’s enthusiasm for Holy Family basketball and her connection with our alumni can’t be overlooked. I’m confident she’s going to do great things with the program.”
Laukaitis comes to Holy Family after spending the past 10 years at Division I University of Pennsylvania as an assistant coach. While at Penn, she assisted with all aspects of the program, including recruitment, on-the-court coaching at individual workouts/practices and scouting opponents while establishing game strategy.
“I am very honored to be named Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Holy Family University,” said Laukaitis. “It truly is my dream job as it is a place that I have an enormous amount of pride and passion for both as a player, assistant coach and now as a head coach. As it is difficult to leave a special place like Penn, I believe it has helped shape me and prepared me for this moment. I will miss the wonderful people that I had the pleasure to work with during my tenure and I look forward to following their continued success. I am looking forward to building my own foundation of success both on and off the floor by establishing strong relationships with the team, our alumni and the HFU community. Thank you Sr Maureen McGarrity and Tim Hamill for this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to start the next chapter in my coaching journey!”
Laukaitis was part of four Ivy League Championships at Penn, including two Big 5 titles. The Quakers appeared in three NCAA Tournaments and two WNIT Tournaments with Laukaitis on staff. She also coached three Ivy League Players of the Year, four Ivy League Defensive Players of the Year and four Ivy League Rookies of the Year. In addition, 23 players earned All-Ivy honors and 15 were selected All-Philadelphia Big 5.
Prior to Penn, Laukaitis spent the 2008-09 season as head coach at Division III Cabrini College. She led Cabrini to the 2009 CSAC Championship and a berth into the NCAA Tournament. Cabrini finished 23-5 overall and 15-1 in conference play that year; the most wins for the program since the 1994-95 season.
Her coaching career began after graduating from Holy Family as an assistant with the Tigers. Laukaitis spent eight seasons on the Campus Center sidelines and went on to win five Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) titles and also appear in the program’s first five NCAA Tournaments. During those eight seasons the Tigers went 234-27, including a 32-1 mark in 2007-08 when the team finished No. 4 nationally. Prior to the program’s transition to NCAA Division II the Tigers appeared in three NAIA Tournaments.
Laukaitis graduated from Holy Family in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. A three-year team captain, Laukaitis ranks fifth in the Tigers’ record book in steals (247) and ninth in assists (372).
Tagged with: CACC DII
