Azzi resigns after leading USFwomen’s basketball to NCAAs
Ex-Stanford star seeks new challenges after Dons’ stirring season
Jennifer Azzi, who coached the USF women’s basketball team to its first NCAA tournament appearance in 19 years this past March, has stepped down after six seasons, the school announced Thursday.
“I have decided to step away from my role as women’s basketball head coach at the University of San Francisco,” Azzi, 48, said in a statement. “It has been my pleasure to serve in this role for the past six seasons. I feel that I have accomplished my goal of building a championship caliber program at USF. The program is in fantastic shape with high-level student-athletes from all over the world. I am leaving this program in great shape to be successful for many years to come. We have built the program on solid values of respect, love, gratitude and hard work.
“I am looking forward to the next chapter in life as I pursue new career opportunities. We are also expecting the birth of our first child later this year and I am excited for the journey ahead off the court. I want to thank USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J., Athletic Director Scott Sidwell, and the entire USF Athletic Department for this opportunity.”
As a player at Stanford, Azzi led the Cardinal to its first NCAA title in 1990, when she was college player of the year. She also played professionally in the nowdefunct American Basketball League and WNBA, and was a member of the gold-medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics.
Azzi took over as coach at USF in the 2010-11 season. Her 2015-16 team was 21-12 and reached the NCAA tournament by stunning top-seeded Brigham Young in the West Coast Conference Tournament final.
“We would like to thank Jennifer for her tireless efforts in taking our women’s basketball program to a championship level during her six years on the Hilltop,” said USF athletic director Scott Sidwell. “In addition to being an outstanding coach, Jennifer is and has always been a firstclass individual. While we are saddened to lose her, we respect her decision to step away from coaching to pursue other opportunities at this time.”