University of Pittsburgh athletic director Scott Barnes announced today that head women’s basketball coach Suzie McConnell-Serio has signed a new contractual agreement that runs through the 2020-21 season.

Arriving at Pitt in 2013, McConnell-Serio has revitalized the Panthers’ fortunes in quick and impressive fashion. This past year she guided a youthful squad to a 20-12 record–including a 9-7 mark in the rugged Atlantic Coast Conference–and the program’s first NCAA Tournament in six years.

“Within a very brief period of time, Suzie McConnell-Serio has made a remarkable imprint on women’s basketball at the University of Pittsburgh,” Barnes said. “On and off the floor, she has Pitt on the rise and we are thrilled to announce this commitment to her and our women’s basketball program. Suzie is nationally respected as both a coach and person, and we couldn’t be more excited about her leading our program into the future.”

“I’m thrilled and thankful to receive this tremendous support from Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Scott Barnes,” McConnell-Serio said. “Pittsburgh is my home, this is where I want to be, and it is an honor to serve as Pitt’s head women’s basketball coach. We are excited about the momentum we have as a program right now and even more excited about what we can achieve in the future.”

Under McConnell-Serio’s direction, Pitt is poised for even greater achievements in the future. She welcomes back a strong nucleus from last year’s NCAA team as well as a second consecutive nationally ranked recruiting class.

McConnell-Serio has a remarkable track record of success, notching 20 wins in six of her eight seasons as a college head coach. Prior to Pitt, she compiled a 123-68 record at neighboring Duquesne University from 2007-13. She additionally is a former WNBA Coach of the Year (2004 with the Minnesota Lynx) and led Oakland Catholic High School to three PIAA Class AAAA championships.

One of the game’s crown jewels, McConnell-Serio is a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and a two-time Olympic medalist as a player (earning Gold at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul and Bronze at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona). An All-America point guard at Penn State, she remains the NCAA career leader in assists with 1,307.

http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/073115aab.html

Photo Courtesy: Bill Wade/Post Gazette

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