Auriemma said it will take time for Ralph to turn around the program, but he believes she can do it without sacrificing the school's high academic standards. In all, Ralph worked with 21 WNBA draft picks at UConn, including nine top-five picks and three No. 1 overall selections: Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart. But we know shes going to do amazing things at Vanderbilt and we wish her the best.. With her help, the Huskies made 12 Final Fours and won six national championships. Vanderbilt Women's Basketball Head Coaches' Salaries NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next women's basketball coach. [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. All rights reserved. .. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday, a week after firing Stephanie White following five seasons. in Exercise Physiology. Ralph, 43, comes to Vanderbilt after spending 13 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut. With many of Vanderbilt's top players having departed the program via transfer in recent months, new coach Shea Ralph has a long road to rebuild the Commodores' talent base. 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. Multiple reports say that Ralph will move to Nashville with her husband Tom Garrick, who could join her staff as an assistant. "[13], Ralph attended the University of Connecticut from 1996 to 2001, wearing uniform number 33, and graduating with a B.A. Its part of who we are, and its exciting to have that at home every night, Ralph said. Ralph said Wednesday during her introductory press conference that she has a shortlist of candidates in mind for her inaugural staff at Vanderbilt. She also had six steals and seven assists, prompting teammate Marci Czel to nickname her Tournament Shea. 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. 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. Shea Ralph was drafted in the third round (40th pick) by the Utah Starzz[37] (now the Las Vegas Aces) of the WNBA. Original reporting that provides diverse perspectives on news and issues of today. The North Carolina program was one of the better programs in the country. [20], In her junior year (19992000), she was named captain of the team that went on to win the national championship. Ralph, a graduate of UConn, has been an assistant coach for the Huskies for the past 13 years. Ralph, 43, played at UConn from 1996-97 to 2000-01, missing the 1997-98 season with a knee injury. 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. Fifteen years later, they are about to conclude their first season coaching alongside each other at Vanderbilt. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who Ralph played for and coached under, also gave a statement about her hire. [39], However, Ralph decided to get back into basketball and joined the University of Pittsburgh the following year. [9] Her AAU coach, John Ellington, was concerned about her eating habits. Ralph and her husband, Tom Garrick, have one daughter, Maysen. 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. 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. Shea Ralph Head Coach phone 615.343.8482 Email chris.brann@vanderbilt.edu Shea Ralph was named the sixth head coach in Vanderbilt women's basketball history on April 13, 2021. In 2005, Earley was an All-SEC first-team selection and candidate for the Naismith Trophy. 1 picks in the WNBA along with 21 other WNBA draft picks and nine top-five picks. The eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print edition. Shea Ralph hires husband Tom Garrick as Vanderbilt women's basketball She spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh, which won at least 22 games in each of her last three seasons. "He said two words: no-brainer," Ralph said. Coach. The US then outscored Japan 233 to take a small lead at the half. At the time of the award she held 17 state basketball records, including 39.1 points per game as a junior, a 71.6 percent shooting percentage from the floor as a junior, and 18 assists in one game. 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 . Ralph was the presumed successor to Auriemma once he retires but now will get the chance to lead her own program. Ralph opted to sit out her rookie year to let her surgically reconstructed knees recover but decided to retire before she ever played a WNBA game. Her college career was decorated. Earley, who will serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, was an All-American player and 1,000-point career scorer at Vanderbilt from 2001-05. "I've learned how to take losing." Coach Ralph brings a wealth of experience from her time as both a student-athlete and coach at one of the nations most storied programs. Shea Ralph: Head Coach: Tom Garrick: Associate Head Coach: Ashley Earley: Assistant Coach Recruiting Coordinator: Kevin DeMille . NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next womens basketball coach. He called her to say, "Geez, Shea. Justin Hershey, Sports Editor February 23, 2022 When Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph encountered Tom Garrick more than 15 years ago, she was impressed. Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program. Shea Ralph is hired as Vanderbilt head womens basketball coach on April 13, 2021. She opted to sit out the first year so her knees could recover, but she never ended up playing in the league. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Donate to the Salvation Army Red Kettle Challenge. Exclusive, subscriber-only content and weekly email newsletters. She was drafted by the Utah Starzz in the third round of the 2001 WNBA Draft, but due to her knee injuries, she never played professionally. Full access on your desktop, tablet and mobile device. The eNewspaper, a digital replica of the print edition. Head coach Kevin Ollie was paid just under. But we know shes going to do amazing things at Vanderbilt and we wish her the best.. Shea Ralph leaving UConn for Vanderbilt head coaching job Nine starters transferred out of the program during Whites tenure, including three just last month. Obviously I'm discussing with Candice who we're gonna hire and put in place, because it's such an important decision for me. A knee injury kept her from playing in the WNBA after she was drafted by the Utah Starzz in 2001. 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. . Social media, Husky alum congratulate UConn women's basketball She was named Athlete of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. 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. [21] She was named the Big East Player of the Year. "Shea has had a huge impact on the UConn womens basketball program, as both a player and a coach. "Shea has had a huge impact on the UConn women's basketball program, as both a player and a coach. 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. [9], Shea Ralph Statistics[35] at University of Connecticut, Ralph was named to the team representing the US in 2000 at the William Jones Cup competition in Taipei, Taiwan. UConn's Shea Ralph named Vanderbilt women's basketball head - FOX61 She had a hand in recruiting Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart who would be No. Ralph takes over a program that hasnt reached the NCAA Tournament in seven years despite a history featuring 26 berths, 15 trips to the Sweet 16, five Elite Eights and a Final Four in 1993. Ralph rounds out her staff with assistant Kevin DeMille, who spent the past five seasons at George Washington in various roles. Ralph finished her college career with 1,678 points to rank eighth in school history. Although she dealt with numerous knee injuries during her time at Connecticut, she was a first-team All-American and the Honda Award winner as national player of the year while leading Connecticut to a national championship in 2000. The Commodores also quickly embraced a collaborative spirit under Ralphs guidance. COACH SEARCH: How did Vanderbilt get women's basketball coach Shea Ralph to leave UConn? That included a 63-59 victory against No. Ralph and the Huskies would go on to finish that season 29-3 before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and they finished the . Shea Ralph earns first 2022 commit as Vanderbilt lands 4 - Vandy247 1 player in the country in the 2020 class and won the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and AP Player of the Year awards as a freshman in 2020-21. Head coach Geno Auriemma called the head coach at Pittsburgh, Agnus Berenato, for permission to talk to Ralph. They then beat South Korea easily and faced Japan in the third game. Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program. Ralph became a coach after playing career ended due to multiple ACL tears in college. Roster. She averaged 16.7 points a game as a sophomore, the highest mark of her career. She focused on coaching guards as well as player development and recruitment according to her. Vanderbilt made the NCAA Tournament in the first five of Garrick's six seasons on staff, which at the time tacked onto a streak of 15 straight appearances in March Madness. She spent the last 14 years at UConn and was a part of 13 teams that made it to the Final Four. Vanderbilt women's basketball coach Shea Ralph announced Sunday that freshman center Amauri Williams had been dismissed from the team. I'm not gonna rush through this. Report: Shea Ralph hiring husband, former Vanderbilt - Vandy247 She focused on coaching guards as well as player development and recruitment according to her UConn biography. 1 overall selections. In her free time, she enjoys online shopping, creating to-do lists and watching football even if she has no interest in either team playing. So he had to up the stakes, and told her to gain weight or she was off the team. Full access on your desktop, tablet and mobile device. But we're gonna do that sooner than later and I do have a shortlist.". [17] She also earned national freshman of the year honors from both the United States Basketball Writers Association and The Sporting News. Vanderbilt Coach Shea Ralph Salary - USA TODAY [2] She was previously an assistant coach at UConn from 2008 to 2021. 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.. During the four years she played full or partial seasons, UConn had a record of 13010. The experience convinced her that she wanted to become a head coach, but she recognized she had a lot to learn. The Commodores were just 4-4 this season before the program shut down in early January due to a depleted roster from COVID issues and injuries. News. 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. Vanderbilts rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people," Ralph said. Many programs pursued her, but two schools appeared to have better chances than Connecticut. Shea Ralph is leaving UConn after 13 seasons as an assistant under Geno Auriemma. Vanderbilt basketball: Five things to know about Shea Ralph In her inaugural season, Ralph led Vanderbilt to its first postseason appearance since 2014. Head coach Kevin Ollie was paid just under $2.8 million. The Official Athletic Site of the Vanderbilt Commodores. Shortly thereafter, she made a recruiting visit to UConn, and told the coach she was ready to commit to Connecticut. 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. Shea Ralph was named the sixth head coach in Vanderbilt womens basketball history on April 13, 2021. Stanford just won a national championship with that kind of kid that is looking for that kind of experience," he said. Labor Dept: Women basketball coaches at UConn were underpaid On Sunday, the culprit was a rebounding deficit of 19 and taking just . After three seasons as the head coach of the UMass Lowell women's basketball team, Tom Garrick is leaving the program. She turned the program around, leading the Panthers to their first NCAA Regional round in school history. How did Vanderbilt get women's basketball coach Shea Ralph to leave UConn? The US team started strong with a 32-point win over the host team, the Republic of China National Team. Ralph received just over $272,000 and Moseley was paid just over $200,600. While Ralph did not confirm Garrick's hiring on Wednesday, she did acknowledge that he is moving to Nashville. Shea Ralph The information below applies to the data obtained for the 2022 contract season: To see the methodology behind this data, click here . Ralph took a major . Prior to returning to UConn as an assistant, Ralph spent five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh from 2003-08. And he previously served as Vanderbilt associate head coach under Melanie Balcomb from 2009-15, reaching the NCAA Tournaments five times.