Urbana Athletics announced Wednesday that Dayton-area native Andrea McCloskey has been hired as the next head women’s basketball coach. McCloskey will officially join the Blue Knights on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
“I’m very excited that Andrea McCloskey will be our next women’s basketball coach,” UU executive director of athletics Larry Cox said. “She grew up in the area, played collegiately at an Ohio school, and has demonstrated success as a college head coach; including taking her team to the national tournament with a final four appearance. She is a great match for the job and an outstanding fit for the university, as well. I fully expect that with the positive momentum building here at Urbana, Andrea will bring even greater prominence to the Blue Knight women’s basketball program.”
McCloskey, who grew up in New Carlisle and attended Tecumseh High School, is excited to get closer to home while continuing her successful career. She spent the previous six seasons as head coach at Georgetown College (NAIA) in Georgetown, Kentucky.
“First, I would like to thank Dr. [Christopher] Washington, Larry Cox, and Nikki Pluger for this great opportunity,” McCloskey said. “Urbana University is a great school that is moving in such a positive direction. It is my privilege to be the next head coach for the women’s basketball program.
I’m looking forward to competing in the MEC and I’m confident that we will be successful in the classroom, on the court, and in the community. I can’t wait to start working with these talented ladies.”
After joining the Georgetown program in 2006 as an assistant, McCloskey took over the reins of leadership for the Tiger program in 2011. She went on to finish 104-76 (57.8%) with an impressive 100 percent graduation rate.
McCloskey made an immediate impact by leading Georgetown to three consecutive 20-win seasons and guiding the Tigers in back-to-back NAIA National Tournament appearances.
In 2011-12, the Tigers finished 24-10 (12-4 MSC) and made a run to the “Fab Four” while McCloskey was tabbed the Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. The following season, Georgetown appeared in the final round of 16 with a final ledger of 23-10 (15-5 MSC).
Prior to Georgetown, McCloskey spent a year at Sinclair Community College and three years at her alma mater, University of Rio Grande, in southeastern Ohio.
McCloskey played four years at Rio Grande, serving as team captain during her junior and senior seasons. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science, and then worked as a graduate assistant while obtaining her master’s degree.
The Urbana women’s basketball team finished 6-20 (3-19 MEC) last season and are expecting to return 10 letterwinners along with four newcomers.
http://uublueknights.com/news/2017/7/26/mccloskey-tabbed-head-coach-for-womens-basketball.aspx
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