Urbana University Athletic Director Doug Young appointed former Blue Knight standout and assistant coach Haley Ducey as the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
“After an extensive national search, we decided that the best person for this job was already here on campus,” explains Young. “I have known Haley since she signed to play at Urbana University out of high school in 2007. She was an exemplary student-athlete for four years, a dedicated assistant coach for two years, and a loyal employee and recruiter in the admissions office these past two years. We are proud to have a true Blue Knight take charge of one of our most successful programs.”
“I am extremely excited to be rejoining the Blue Knight athletics family,” remarked Ducey upon the announcement. “This is a great opportunity, and I’m extremely thankful to Doug Young and the rest of the Blue Knight family for helping make this happen. I am eager to start working with the girls again and rebuilding the program back to where it was four years ago. Basketball has always been a passion of mine. I want these young women to be proud of what they’ve accomplished, where they’ve been and where they’re going. Being a part of this wonderful family and program for the past seven years has taught me a lot about myself. I’m ecstatic to see where this program and Urbana University are headed!”
Ducey joined the Blue Knight family after a productive prep career at Ottawa-Glandorf High School. She started 72 consecutive games for the Titans, averaging 12.4 points per game and earning All-Ohio honors in 2007.
After sitting out her freshman season with a knee injury, Ducey completed one of the most successful three-year runs as a Blue Knight in program history. She finished with 755 career points in 82 games for the Royal Blue and White. Despite being limited to just three seasons, she finished 12th all-time in career assists, 6th in three-point shooting percentage, and 1st in free throw percentage.
Urbana averaged over 15 wins a season during Ducey’s career, which fell entirely under the tutelage of acclaimed Head Coach Rob Phillips, who won 263 games in 17 years in charge of the Blue Knight women’s basketball program. Twice, Ducey was named team captain and earned NCAA Division II All-Independent Team honors. A leader on the court and in the classroom, Ducey was also a regular on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and Dean’s List.
Ducey joined Phillips’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant after completing her playing career as a Blue Knight in 2011. Just before her first season as an assistant, Phillips resigned as Head Coach. Ducey briefly stepped in as the interim Head Coach, leading the squad to her first career head coaching victory on December 13, 2011, a 67-57 decision over Salem International University. The next week, she handed the reins of the program over to new Head Coach Maria Marchesano. With Ducey’s assistance, Marchesano earned D-II Independent Coach of the Year honors that season. After the transition, the Blue Knights captured eight straight home games and ended the year with 12 wins in 19 contests. The following season, Marchesano and Ducey guided the Blue Knights to a G-MAC Championship, the program’s first conference title since Phillips’ heyday in the late 1990’s.
During Ducey’s two-year stint as a graduate assistant, she earned an MBA at her alma mater. Ducey’s undergraduate degree was in Sports Management. Since receiving her Master’s Degree in the spring of 2013, Ducey has served the University as an Admissions Counselor.
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