After serving nine months as the interim head women’s basketball coach at Mansfield University, Alison Tagliaferri has been named the permanent head coach.
The announcement was made before a large gathering of staff, supporters, students and alumni by interim President Dr. Allan Golden at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
“Since she assumed the position of interim head coach this July, Coach Tagliaferri has instilled a sense of competence, integrity and hope into our women’s basketball program,” said Dr. Golden in introducing Tagliaferri.
“Today Coach Tagliaferri is back home where she belongs and we are confident that her ability, love for the university, and passion to succeed will lead to the greatest era in Mansfield University women’s basketball history.”
Tagliaferri, who was named assistant coach on July 14, 2012 was promoted to interim head coach two weeks later when former head coach
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Ruth Hermansen took a position in Student Affairs at Mansfield, is considered one of the greatest female student-athletes in Mountaineer history.
"Many of you who know me, know that settling for past achievements is not what I’m about," said Tagliaferri. "My expectations for this program are high, my expectations for the players are high, but the highest expectations I have are the expectations I have for myself."
"I believe in this university, I believe in the people who represent it and just as much — I believe in this program and the players who represent it."
Tagliaferri was an exceptional two-sport athlete at Mansfield playing basketball for five seasons from 2002-2006 under head coach Ruth Hermansen and playing softball for four seasons from 2002-05 under head coach Edith Gallagher.
Tagliaferri, who was named PSAC East Player of the Week nine times during her career, is the all-time leading scorer in MU history with 1,795 points – more than 200 points better than the next highest scorer. She is also the most accurate shooter in school history hitting 48.4% of her shots. Tagliaferri ranks first in career blocks (130) and free throws made (457) and fourth in rebounds (852).
Tagliaferri is the first and only women’s basketball player in school history to earn 1st Team All-East honors during all four seasons at Mansfield and was also named to the All-PSAC East softball team three times.
During her senior season in 2006, Tagliaferri was named PSAC East Player of the Year, becoming the first MU women’s athlete ever to earn that honor after leading the Mountaineers to their first-ever PSAC playoff berth. She was also named to NCAA Division II All-East honors and named an Honorable Mention Division II Bulletin All-American that season.
As a senior, Tagliaferri was second in the PSAC in scoring averaging 16.7 points per game and ranked 6th in the conference in rebounding at 8.5 boards per outing. She also ranked in the top ten in the PSAC in blocked shots and shooting percentage.
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Tagliaferri was the PSAC East Rookie of the Year in 2002 after averaging 14.6 points per game and pulling down 182 rebounds her freshman season.
Following graduation, she played professional basketball in Portugal in 2007 earning a spot on the Portuguese Basketball Federation All-Star team. Tagliaferri also played for the Harrisburg Horizon of the Women’s Eastern Basketball Alliance in 2008.
Tagliaferri was equally as successful on the softball diamond, helping the Mountaineers to a ECAC Softball Championship in 2004. A three-time All-PSAC East selection, she earned All-North Atlantic Regional honors in 2004 after hitting .429 with eight home runs and knocking in 33 runs. Tagliaferri also posted an 8-5 mark on the mound that year with a 1.65 ERA, striking out 90 batters in 98 innings while walking just 29.
Named PSAC East Player of the Week five times during her softball career, Tagliaferri still ranks third in school history in career home runs with 17. She also ranks third in school history for career RBI’s (78) and fourth in doubles (23). Also an outstanding pitcher, Tagliaferri had a 24-17 win-loss record and currently ranks second in career ERA (2.11) and strikeouts (296).
After graduating from Mansfield, Tagliaferri became the head women’s basketball coach at Pennsylvania College of Technology from 2007 through the end of the 2009-10 season where she guided the Wildcats to three PSUAC Elite Eight playoff appearances. Over her three seasons as head coach, Tagliaferri posted a 43-34 overall mark with a 35-17 record against PSUAC opponents.
She earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Lock Haven University in 2009 and served as the assistant coach at Eastern University during the 2010-11 season. In 2011-12, Tagliaferri was an assistant coach at West Chester University.
In 2011, Tagliaferri was inducted into both the Mansfield University Athletic/Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the West Branch Hall of Fame.
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