Bernabei-McNamee leaves for Boston College
ALBANY, N.Y. » Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, who has coached the University at Albany women’s basketball team for the past two seasons, has accepted the headcoaching position at Boston College.
“I want to thank Coach Mac for the outstanding job she did with our women’s basketball team,” said UAlbany Director of Athletics, Mark Benson. “It’s a testament to the strength of our program that Boston College would turn to her as their next Head Coach. We wish Joanna, Joe, Luke and Caden all the best moving forward.”
Bernabei-McNamee guided the Great Danes to a 45-20 record over the past two years, including a 24-8 mark in the America East. UAlbany reached the postseason in each of her two years leading program.
In 2017, “Coach Mac” piloted the Great Danes to an unprecedented sixth-consecutive league title and secured an NCAA Tournament berth. This past spring, after a 24-7 regular season, UAlbany competed in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament for its seventh consecutive postseason appearance.
Bernabei-McNamee presided over several UAlbany program records since her arrival. Imani Tate became the second all-time leading scorer in program history, finishing her career with 1,762 points, and TianaJo Carter became the program’s all-time leader in career blocked shots with 154. As freshmen, Mackenzie Trpcic (103) and Khepera Stokes (95) both surpassed the program’s freshman season assists record. And this past season, three players – Carter, Jessica Féquière, and Bose Aiyalogbe – each eclipsed 2,000 career minutes, 100 career appearances and 50 career starts as Great Danes.
Boston College is located in Chestnut Hill, Mass., and plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This year the Eagles finished 7-23 overall, with a 2-14 record in the ACC.
UAlbany immediately will begin a national search to fill its women’s basketball head-coaching position.
FROM BOSTON
Boston College coach Erik Johnson resigned after six seasons with the Terriers on March 1. The program has not had a 10-win or more in two seasons under Johnson. The Terriers upset Duke in the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2015.
“We are thrilled to welcome Joanna and her family to The Heights,” Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said. “She is a proven head coach who can recruit and develop student-athletes, and who has shown she can win at the highest level. She has won at every program she has coached at, including serving as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach for a National Championship team at Maryland. Joanna is one of the best young coaches in the game and brings a unique experience as a program changer at multiple levels to our program at Boston College.”
McNamee will be introduced to the media Wednesday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m.