Georgetown University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tasha Butts announced the addition of Kelly Mazzante to the 2023-24 women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach. Mazzante comes to the Hilltop from Bucknell University, and has 10 years of coaching experience following a seven-year career as a professional.
“I am beyond excited about the addition of Kelly to our program,” said Butts. “She is someone that has played at the highest level and it was extremely important for me to hire someone of her caliber. Our ladies will be coached and mentored by someone that has been where they want to go. Her collegiate and professional resumes are incredible, but more importantly, she understands what it means to work and recruit at a high academic institution like Georgetown University. We are changing the narrative and this is an absolute home run hire for our program.”
Mazzante spent four seasons at Bucknell, being promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2022-23 season. In her time with the Bison, the team appeared in one Patriot League championship game and made a WNIT run in 2021-22. The squad had its best season in 2019-20 going 24-6 and riding a nine-game win streak before the PL Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Overall, Mazzante coached three First Team All-Patriot League selections as well as three second team members and two named to the third team. She also mentored four Patriot League All-Tournament honorees.
The former Penn State standout had returned to her roots after being one of the best local players in history while playing at nearby Montoursville High School. On Oct. 30, 2022, Mazzante was formally inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
Prior to Bucknell, Mazzante spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. At IUP, she guided the squad to its most illustrious stretch in program history, all of which resulted in 20-plus wins and bids to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Her time with the Crimson Hawks was capped by back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II Final Four. These were the first and second Final Four games in program history. In all, the team went 130-29 (.818) overall and 92-17 (.844) in the PSAC while winning three PSAC West Regular Season Championships, two PSAC Tournament titles, and two Atlantic Region crowns.
Prior to coaching, Mazzante was a prolific player in high school, college, the WNBA and internationally. She graduated from Penn State in 2004 as the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer with 2,919 points. With the Nittany Lions, she was a two-time Associated Press First Team All-American, and the fourth player in Big Ten history to repeat as Player of the Year, earning the award as both a junior and senior. In addition to her career scoring record, she holds Penn State records for points in a season (872 in 2001-02), points in a game (49 vs. Minnesota in 2001), career field goals made (1,051) and career 3-point field goals made (357).
During her senior campaign, Mazzante led the Nittany Lions to their second-consecutive Big Ten championship and a number one seed in the NCAA tournament, with an eventual trip to the Elite Eight. Shortly after that she was drafted by the Charlotte Sting in the second round of the 2004 WNBA draft. This was the same draft class as GU Head Coach Tasha Butts as well as Hoya standout Rebekkah Brunson. Mazzante went on to play seven seasons overall and won two league titles with the Phoenix Mercury in 2007 and 2009. Additionally, she played professionally for teams in Slovakia, Russia, Hungary and Italy.
Few players in Pennsylvania high school girls basketball history have been able to match the numbers put up by Mazzante during her time at Montoursville. The Williamsport, Pa., native scored 3,217 points as a four-year starter, which ranked third in state history when she graduated. She led the Warriors to state championship appearances as both a junior and senior, winning the Eastern Pennsylvania regional titles both seasons.
Off of the court, Mazzante earned a Bachelor’s of Science in public relations/communications from Penn State in 2004. She was a three-time Academic All-America selection, including Academic All-American of the Year as a senior.
“I am extremely honored and blessed to join Tasha and her staff at Georgetown University,” said Mazzante. “The opportunity to work at a University of such excellence and storied traditions, both academically and athletically, excites me, and I couldn’t ask for a better person to work beside than Tasha. Our history goes back to our playing days at Penn State and Tennessee, and I couldn’t be more proud to start this journey with her here at Georgetown!”
Tagged with: Big East
