Women’s Hoops: Vermont Mourns the Loss of Cathy Inglese

Posted on , updated on by George Commo

Courtesy Vermont Sports Information

BURLINGTON — Former Vermont women’s basketball head coach Cathy Inglese passed away Wednesday, one week after suffering a brain injury in a fall.

“Heavy hearts in Catamount Country today,” said Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman. “One of the best coaches and people that we’ve ever had, Cathy and her women’s basketball teams left a mark on the University of Vermont that will never be forgotten. Sending love and thoughts to her family, friends and former players.”

“Cathy is so beloved in the Catamount Country and the women’s basketball world,” said current head coach Alisa Kresge. “The impression she left on our program, all the student-athletes and people she touched is remarkable. We thank Cathy for everything she has done to inspire young girls and women. This upcoming season we will wear commemorative patches on our uniforms to honor one of the greatest coaches to ever coach at Patrick Gym. Our deepest sympathy goes out to Cathy’s family and loved ones.”

Inglese was the head coach at Vermont for seven seasons, from 1986-1993. She led UVM to unprecedented success with its first two conference titles, in 1992 and 1993, and its first two trips to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship. While at UVM, Inglese was named America East Coach of the Year three times, 1990, 1991 and 1992.

The team went an amazing 79-9 over her last three campaigns including a combined 57-2 mark in 1991-92 and 1992-93. In those two years Vermont was the winningest team in the nation and became the first team to go unbeaten in the regular season in back-to-back seasons. Her final two Vermont teams won a then NCAA-record 52 straight regular season games.

Inglese was inducted into the UVM Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. Inglese was also named to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. Following her time at Vermont Inglese coached at Boston College from 1993-2008. She guided BC to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including three trips to the Sweet 16 and their first-ever Big East Tournament Championship. Ironically the last of her 273 wins at Boston College was over Vermont in the second round of the 2008 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

From 2009-2014 Inglese led the women’s basketball program at the University of Rhode Island. On December 1, 2012 she won her final game at Patrick Gym defeating Houston Baptist 59-36 in the TD Bank Classic. Over the last two seasons she was on staff at Fairleigh Dickinson. Last month she was named an assistant coach at Hofstra.