The University of Minnesota Crookston women’s basketball program announced the hiring of Natalie Moynihan as head women’s basketball coach. Moynihan most recently served as assistant coach for the past two seasons at the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, Conn. Moynihan was a heralded player at Franklin Pierce University and professionally in Germany, Luxembourg, and Scotland.
“We are very excited to name Natalie as the next head women’s basketball coach,” said Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson. “Natalie impressed us with her energy, drive, and enthusiasm. We were also impressed with her thorough and well-thought-out plan to build on the successes the women’s basketball program has had at the University of Minnesota Crookston. We are excited to see the work and care Natalie and staff will put into the Golden Eagle women’s basketball program as head coach. Natalie competed at a high level as a player and brings experience coaching a variety of levels of basketball. We are excited to welcome Natalie to the Minnesota Crookston family.”
In the past two seasons at NCAA Division II school Bridgeport, Moynihan helped coach Stephanie McBride and Amani Melendez to All-CACC honors during the 2022-23 season. In addition, Brianna Meekins and Samirah Akinwunmi were named to the CACC All-Academic team. In 2021-22, she aided McBride to a Second Team All-ECC accolade. Moynihan helped coordinate recruiting, aided with game and practice planning. She oversaw substation rotations, did scouting reports and video edits of opponents. She also aided with individual player development and coordinated the preseason conditioning program for the Purple Knights.
“I would like to thank Athletic Director Stephanie Helgeson and her staff for entrusting me with this amazing opportunity to be the University’s next head women’s basketball coach!,” Moynihan stated. “This position is a dream come true and I immediately felt welcomed and at home when I stepped on UMN Crookston’s campus a few weeks ago. The team is already comprised of fantastic young women that I can’t wait to mentor and get to work with for the upcoming season! This school and women’s basketball program has all of the pieces to become an absolute force in the NSIC and at the NCAA Division II level in general and I am extremely blessed with getting the opportunity to help bring them there!”
Prior to her role at Bridgeport, Moynihan was an assistant varsity coach at Hill Career Regional High School in New Haven, C.T. during the 2019-20 season. In the 2018-19 season, she was the assistant coach and head strength coach for the Neuss Tigers Youth Girls. During the 2017-18 season, she was the head coach of the Musel Pikes Senior Women B team, where she coached and inspired both older and younger female players to enhance their skills and mindset. She was also the assistant coach and head strength coach for the Musel Pikes Youth Boys during the 2017-18 season. In the 2016-17 season, Moynihan was the head coach of George Harriot’s Preparatory School Boys team, where she helped lead the seventh graders to the Division Title Championship.
As a player, the former Natalie Bastian made it to the NCAA Division II East Regional twice. She was named All-Northeast 10 Honorable Mention as a senior during the 2015-16 season. Moynihan scored 718 career points as a Raven. She averaged 13.0 points per game as a senior, and 10.4 points per game as a junior. Moynihan was a career 43.3 percent three-point shooter. She also served as a team captain for the Ravens.
As a professional, she started her career during the 2016-17 season with the Caledonia Pride in the Women’s British Basketball League. She averaged 13.5 points per game in her one season with the Pride. During the 2017-18 season, she competed for the Musel Pikes in Luxembourg, a member of the Luxembourg Total League, notching 19.3 points per tilt, and shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc. In her final season playing professionally, Moynihan competed for Neuss in Germany, a member of the Germany DBBL2 league, and the Musel Pikes in Luxembourg. She averaged 14.7 points per game in 20 games for Neuss, and 13.7 points per tilt in three games for the Musel Pikes.
In addition, Moynihan is a personal trainer, running her own business, NATHLETICS LLC, where she has experience in training multiple age groups and fitness/level abilities. She is also the owner/director of operations at the Branford River Spa, which has provided her extensive experience in multitasking, delegating, supervising and building effective relationships with clientele and co-workers. Moynihan has also worked as a part-time color commentator analyst for Fairfield University and the University of New Haven women’s basketball programs.
Moynihan received her Bachelor of Science in health sciences, with honors, from Franklin Pierce University in 2016. She earned a Master of Science in strength and conditioning from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. She is married to Ryan Moynihan, and is a native of Branford, Conn.
All University of Minnesota Crookston hires are pending successful background checks.
Tagged with: D2 NSIC
