She helped win a national championship as a player at the University of Connecticut in 2000 and won numerous individual awards, including the Sports Illustrated for Women Player of the Year and the Honda Sports Award for the best collegiate female athlete in basketball. He was an assistant with the Vanderbilt womens basketball team from 2009-2015. New Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph brings a unique connection to West End her husband, Tom Garrick, was an assistant at Vanderbilt from 2009 to 2015 under former coach Melanie Balcomb. Full access on your desktop, tablet and mobile device. Stanford just won a national championship with that kind of kid that is looking for that kind of experience," he said. Her final game was memorialized in Jeff Goldberg's book Bird at the Buzzer, a game some have termed the "greatest women's basketball game ever played". "He said two words: no-brainer," Ralph said. Athletic Director Candice Lee confirmed the hire on Twitter Tuesday. As a junior, she led UConn to a national title and earned awards including the Sports Illustrated Women Player of the Year and Big East Player of the Year. Ralph said Wednesday during her introductory press conference that she has a shortlist of candidates in mind for her inaugural staff at Vanderbilt. Ralph's mother, Marsha (Mann) Lake, was an All-American basketball player for the University of North Carolina. (Top photo of Shea Ralph: Courtesy of Vanderbilt University) Get all-access to exclusive stories. [2] [3] He was the head women's basketball coach at UMass Lowell from 2018 to 2021, before he returned to Vanderbilt as an assistant to his wife Shea Ralph , who became head coach there. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File) Buy this photo Published on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 16:45 Written by CARL ADAMEC American college basketball player and coach, Current women's basketball head coaches of the, Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball head coaches, Big East Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year, Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year, Big East Women's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, List of Connecticut women's basketball players with 1000 points, "Ralph to Lead Vanderbilt Women's Basketball", "North Carolina High School Athletic Association", "WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores", "Connecticut turns up defensive heat, scorches Tennessee for national title", "Shea Ralph | CT Women's Basketball Hall of Fame", "Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor", "Pitt finishes season losing 12 in a row", "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Former UConn Star Trades Dreams", "PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL", "ALL-TIME NCHSAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT RECORDS", "Shea Ralph hires husband Tom Garrick as Vanderbilt women's basketball associate head coach", NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shea_Ralph&oldid=1142314692, All-American college women's basketball players, Basketball players from Raleigh, North Carolina, Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball coaches, Sportspeople from Raleigh, North Carolina, Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball coaches, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 6x NCAA champion (assistant) (200910, 201316), 1995 USA Today National High School Player of the Year, Most steals in a season (second place) (251), Most steals in a career (second place) (701), Most points in a sophomore season (second place) (818), Most points in a season by a junior (1,135), Most points in a season by a senior (1,049), Most points in a single tournament game (52), This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 18:43. She also had six steals and seven assists, prompting teammate Marci Czel to nickname her Tournament Shea. However, he did, and Ralph became an assistant at UConn in 2008. In 2005, Earley was an All-SEC first-team selection and candidate for the Naismith Trophy. He was an assistant with the Vanderbilt womens basketball team from 2009-2015. Ralph will replace Stephanie White, who was fired last week after going 46-83 in five seasons at Vanderbilt. Ralph, despite five ACL surgeries, filled in and helped lead by example. [18], Shea had her best scoring year as a sophomore, with 16.7 points per game. He played at the highest level, and hes coached for decades.. "[13], Ralph attended the University of Connecticut from 1996 to 2001, wearing uniform number 33, and graduating with a B.A. Shortly thereafter, she made a recruiting visit to UConn, and told the coach she was ready to commit to Connecticut. She was selected at the most valuable player in the 2000 NCAA Womens Final Four. 0:49 Vanderbilt women's basketball coach Shea Ralph said the decision to dismiss center Amauri Williams from the team was not a difficult one. Coach Ralph has earned the opportunity to take the reins of our women's basketball program and transform it into what we all know is possible. He tells me when I'm wrong all the time. New Vanderbilt womens basketball coach Shea Ralph hired her husband, Tom Garrick, and former Vanderbilt star player Ashley Earley on her staff. [31] UConn went on to win the game on a buzzer-beater by Sue Bird, but Ralph's college career was over. KNOXVILLE Shea Ralph and Brinae Alexander agreed: Despite the scoreboard in Vanderbilt's 66-52 loss to Tennessee, Sunday was one of the Commodores' best performances in Ralph's first season as coach of the Commodores. [2] She was previously an assistant coach at UConn from 2008 to 2021. Shea Ralph was drafted in the third round (40th pick) by the Utah Starzz[37] (now the Las Vegas Aces) of the WNBA. Uconn won the Big East Regular season championship and the post-season Big East tournament championship all four years. "I've learned how to take losing." The Commodores were 4-4 in 2020-21. She knows what winning looks like, and she has the background and experienceas both a player and a coachto develop our student-athletes into champions.. Ralph has spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant. And he previously served as Vanderbilt associate head coach under Melanie Balcomb from 2009-15, reaching the NCAA Tournaments five times. she said, "That's about it."[41]. [40] Tensions mounted, and after strong words to some of the players, one left, leaving the team short-handed for a scrimmage. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday morning, April 13, 2021, a week after firing Stephanie White. During her four years she wore number 33, worn previously by Jamelle Elliott, current UConn sports announcer Meghan Pattyson Culmo and subsequently by Barbara Turner. . Plus Ciaja Harbison thoughts and VandyBoys weekend roundup, FELLAS: Vanderbilts ChatGPT email is automated hypocrisy, Two Vanderbilt students compete in Jeopardy! Ralph was the presumed successor to Auriemma once he retires but now will get the chance to lead her own program. The Official Athletic Site of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program, which hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014. [27][28] Ralph scored only two points in that game. After three seasons as the head coach of the UMass Lowell women's basketball team, Tom Garrick is leaving the program. She can be reached at elizabeth.goodfriend@vanderbilt.edu. It is not uncommon for coaches to promise starting positions and a minimum number of minutes playing time for highly promising recruits. Ralph took a major . We know you have many choices and appreciate you investing in us and the future of journalism. Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. .. Harbison played 37 minutes and Garraud played 34. Garraud was Vanderbilt's top scorer against South Carolina with 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. She said she's always been motivated and inspired by people passionately pursuing excellence. Ralph played a key role in recruiting and working with several players who would go on to become some of the best players in the WNBA. [25] She played on the USA Basketball 2000 Jones Cup Team that won the gold in Taipei.[26]. Garrick was most recently the head coach of UMass Lowells womens basketball program. I would like to congratulate Shea on being named the head coach at Vanderbilt University, Auriemma said. Head coach Geno Auriemma called the head coach at Pittsburgh, Agnus Berenato, for permission to talk to Ralph. Ralph started out on fire. My husband, if you know him, he doesn't mince words. UConn women's basketball assistant coach and former player Shea Ralph is taking the next big step in her career, joining the Vanderbilt women's basketball program as their head coach after . Its an amazing opportunity to be at such a great university in a great city. In all, Ralph worked with 21 WNBA draft picks at UConn, including nine top-five picks and three No. Ralph, a graduate of UConn, has been an assistant coach for the Huskies for the past 13 years. I have always been motivated and inspired by people who have a passionate pursuit of excellence. The most comprehensive coverage of the Vanderbilt Women's Basketball on the web with highlights, scores, game summaries, schedule and rosters. As a national high school player of the year in Fayetteville, North Carolina, she gained immediate acclaim in a Connecticut program that was emerging as a perennial powerhouse. It is with great honor and a full heart that I join Vanderbilt University as the next womens basketballheadcoach, Ralph said. He called her to say, "Geez, Shea. Three starters transferred after the season, two of them graduates. Ralph was proficient in multiple sports, set state high school records in basketball, and earned multiple national player of the year awards in high school and college. The 2022-23 season marks her second leading the Commodores. She began her coaching career at Pittsburgh in 2003 before returning to UConn in 2008. [16], In her freshman year (199697) the UConn team won every game of their regular season schedule (270) and went on to win the Big East tournament, completing an undefeated regular season with a 300 record. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday morning, April 13, 2021, a week after firing Stephanie White. Vanderbilts rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people. Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph communicates with players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina Monday, Jan. 24, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina . Since then, she has been a part of a coaching staff that has led the Huskies to six more national championships, including four in a row from 2013-2016. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program, which hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014. Garrick, a former NBA player, will be his. The Commodores reached the third round of the Womens National Invitation Tournament, their longest postseason run since 2013. Earleys other stops as an assistant were at Penn State (2019-21), Northern Kentucky (2017-19), Virginia (2012-13), Marquette (2010-12), Rhode Island (2009-10), Tennessee Tech (2007-09) and Alabama (2006-07). He served on the support staff with Ralph under Geno Auriemma at Connecticut for five national title teams. Vanderbilt has its new women's basketball coach in longtime UConn assistant Shea Ralph. Auriemma read the quote in the paper and "almost [fell] off his chair." [39], However, Ralph decided to get back into basketball and joined the University of Pittsburgh the following year. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. $300 million project to improve football and basketball facilities. Ralph was selected by the Utah Starzz in the 2001 WNBA Draft, but was unable to pursue a professional career due to a knee injury. I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our womens basketball program back toan elite level. The men's basketball team did not have an associate head coach that year. Ralph finished her college career with 1,678 points to rank eighth in school history. Kelly Schumacher grabbed an offensive rebound and scored to bring the lead back to five points and the team held on for the win. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Garrick's wife and longtime UConn women's basketball assistant coach, Shea. Ralph is an experienced coach with a demonstrated history of success in womens basketball. It just asked. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program, which hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since. However, Auriemma responded, "I don't know. . Ralph is married to former NBA player and fellow coach Tom Garrick, who is a member of her coaching staff at Vanderbilt.[48]. [12] Another premier program, the University of Tennessee, was also very interested in Ralph. She turned the program around, leading the Panthers to their first NCAA Regional round in school history. If you are really, really good, then you'll have a chance to play a lot. Ralph was growing up in North Carolina and her name was a "household word since she was eleven years old". Credit: AP. She was named Athlete of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Exclusive, subscriber-only content and weekly email newsletters. She spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh, which won at least 22 games in each of her last three seasons. [10] Despite barely eating, she still managed to score 3,002 points in her high school career.[11]. On April 13, 2021, Ralph was named the Vanderbilt Commodores' sixth women's basketball head coach.[2]. Schumacher had 24 points to help the US team beat Japan 8380. During her time with the Huskies, she recruited and worked with players like Paige Bueckers, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart while mentoring 21 WNBA draft picks, including nine top-five picks and three No. Ralph called Geno Auriemma, the Connecticut coach, to ask what kind of role he envisioned for her at UConn. Shea Sydney Ralph (born March 12, 1978)[1] is a former collegiate basketball player and current head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team. [17] She also earned national freshman of the year honors from both the United States Basketball Writers Association and The Sporting News. Ralph became a coach after playing career ended due to multiple ACL tears in college. Ralph also won national awards, including Sports Illustrated Women Player of the Year,[22] the Honda Sports Award in basketball,[23][24] and a spot on the Kodak All-America team. Coach Ralph has earned the opportunity to take the reins of our womens basketball program and transform it into what we all know is possible, said Candice Lee, Vanderbilt vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and athletic director. Here are five things to know about Ralph: Before joining UConn coach Geno Auriemma as an assistant, Ralph was one of the top high school players in the country. With her help, the Huskies made 12 Final Fours and won six national championships. Vanderbilt is making a push in athletics with "Vandy United," a $300 million dollar investment that includes the construction of new basketball facilities. Jordyn Cambridge, Iyana Moore and Sacha Washington earned All-SEC accolades during the 2021-22 campaign. We know you have many choices and appreciate you investing in us and the future of journalism. In 2000 Ralph captained the team to the national championship and at the Final Four, was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Ralph said that Garrick's prior experience at Vanderbilt played a role in her comfort with taking the job, as he advocated for the program and its potential. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next womens basketball coach. Its an amazing opportunity to be at such a great university in a great city. They then beat South Korea easily and faced Japan in the third game. (Twitter/@VandyWBB), Betsy Goodfriend, Deputy Sports Editor April 13, 2021. Her drive as a student, as a player as a coach, her intensity level in how she played and coached and recruited, those are staples of who Shea is and I know that's what she will bring to Vanderbilt" he said. Nevertheless, Ralph's overall tournament production earned her a position on the all-tournament team. COACH SEARCH: How did Vanderbilt get women's basketball coach Shea Ralph to leave UConn? She was also an assistant under Balcomb from 2013-16 and helped recruit multiple top-20 classes. She also won the Honda Award, presented to the premier female student-athlete in 12 collegiate sports, and the Sports Illustrated for Women Player of the Year. Athletic Director Candice Lee confirmed the hire on Twitter Tuesday. She also ranked among the programs top 10 career leaders in assists (456), steals (252) and field goal percentage (.579). Multiple reports say that Ralph will move to Nashville with her husband Tom Garrick, who could join her staff as an assistant. 15 Florida in Memorial Gymnasium on Feb. 24, 2022, the programs first win against a ranked opponent since 2020. Garrick, a former NBA player, will be his wifes associate head coach. [2] She was previously an assistant coach at UConn from 2008 to 2021. He played in the NBA for four seasons (1988-92) for the Clippers, Spurs, Timberwolves and Mavericks. We're going to miss her tremendously she brought passion and energy to everything she did in. Lee, who had the interim tag taken off last May as athletic director, played basketball for Vanderbilt from 1998-2002, when the Commodores made back-to-back Elite Eights. The 2022-23 season marks her second leading the Commodores. Ralph will be charged with rebuilding the programs talent pool. Ralph received just over $272,000 and Moseley was paid just over $200,600. Ralph, 43, played at UConn from 1996-97 to 2000-01, missing the 1997-98 season with a knee injury. Despite having to deal with five ACL injuries during her playing career, Ralph was a first-team All-American and the Honda Award winner as national player of the year while leading UConn to a national championship in 2000. Ralph also helped recruitPaige Bueckers who was the No. More AP womens college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball. Before being hired at UConn, Ralph spent five years on the coaching staff at Pitt. [42] When Tonya Cardoza left UConn to take the head coaching position at Temple University, the school needed a new assistant. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday, a week after firing Stephanie White following five seasons. Japan started out strongly, and had an 18-point lead in the first half. With her help, the Huskies made 12 Final Fours and won six national championships. [ UConn women's basketball assistant, alum Shea Ralph named head coach at Vanderbilt ] The Commodores went 4-4 before canceling their season in January due to COVID-19 and injuries. The No. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday, a week after firing Stephanie White following five seasons. The rematch between the two teams came in the Big East Championship game. As one of the most celebrated student-athletes in womens basketball history, Ralph ranks eighth in UConns storied record book with 1,678 points. [14][15] She was enrolled at the university for five years, with a medical redshirt in her second year, 199798. Ralph, one of the most popular players in program history, was named head coach at Vanderbilt on Tuesday. Were going to miss her tremendously she brought passion and energy to everything she did in Storrs. Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website, student-athlete mental health and performance, prospective student-athlete questionnaire, NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, Mr. C and Spirit Squad Appearance Requests. Ralph and her husband, Tom Garrick, have one daughter, Maysen. Advertisement Coach. [29] A few minutes later she scored again, pushing her scoring total to eleven points on 44 shooting, along with six assists and three steals with over six minutes remaining in the first half. Along with three season-ending injuries suffered before. Vanderbilt also recorded its first SEC Tournament victory in six years when it defeated Texas A&M 85-69 on March 2, 2022. Ralph received just over $272,000 and Moseley was paid just over $200,600. Ralph, a graduate of UConn, has been an assistant coach for the Huskies for the past 13 years. Shea Ralph is hired as Vanderbilt head womens basketball coach on April 13, 2021. Hes one of the brightest minds in the game, and hes passionate about it. Although Ralph was selected by the Utah Starzz in the 2001 WNBA draft, continued knee injuries ended her on-court career. April 13, 2021 Vanderbilt women's basketball has found its next head coach: UConn assistant Shea Ralph. 2023 www.tennessean.com. 2022-23 Season Stats (PDF) 2022-23 BIG EAST Stats (PDF) Additional Links. The head coach of Tennessee, Pat Summitt, was good friends with Marsha, so many felt one of those two schools would have the inside track. During the four years she played full or partial seasons, UConn had a record of 13010. Garrick became the head coach at UMass Lowell in 2018 and has also served in assistant roles at Boston College and Rhode Island. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University and its official representatives. After Lee hired Ralph as Vanderbilt's women's basketball coach in 2021, she relayed the story. She spent the last 14 years at UConn and was a part of 13 teams that made it to the Final Four. Harbison had nine points, and Demi Washington had eight points and six rebounds. Our most popular newsletter, Daily Briefing, to keep you updated on the day's top stories. [9] Playing basketball was her first love, and benching her from playing did get her to eat;[8] however, that only lasted until her first ACL tear. Pitt also reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history in 2008. 1 picks in the WNBA along with 21 other WNBA draft picks and nine top-five picks. Fifteen years later, they are about to conclude their first season coaching alongside each other at Vanderbilt. The final game was against Malaysia, but it wasn't close, with the US winning 7924, to secure a 40 record for the competition and the gold medal. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next women's basketball coach. While serving as a coach at her alma mater, Ralph helped guide the Huskies to 12 Final Four appearances and six national championships, including a record four consecutive titles from 2013-16. She went on to have a great senior season in high school. Ralph has spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Huskies. In Big East play, the team only lost two games in four seasons for a combined record of 662. The Vanderbilt Hustler welcomes and encourages readers to engage with content and express opinions through the comment sections on our website and social media platforms. Ralph rounds out her staff with assistant Kevin DeMille, who spent the past five seasons at George Washington in various roles. Ralph was an assistant at Pitt before joining Auriemma's staff in 2008. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. She was named thenational high school player of the year in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The low point came in a game against Big East rival Notre Dame in January, a match-up between two undefeated teams ranked number one and number two in the country. Berenato knew exactly why he had called and responded, "I hope you don't get what you are calling for." She focused on coaching guards as well as player development and recruitment according to her. [4] The Terry Sanford High School graduate is best known for her basketball prowess, but she also lettered in soccer, cross-country, and track. Wright, Commodores stun Kentucky to keep NCAA hopes alive, Chancellor Diermeier calls ChatGPT-crafted response to MSU shooting unfortunate, discusses AI in the classroom, Debrief with Diermeier: Campus expansions, ChatGPT, local politics and more, PODCAST: Does Vanderbilt have a path to NCAA tournament? That included a 63-59 victory against No. But we're gonna do that sooner than later and I do have a shortlist.".