The Pitt women’s basketball team is coming off a very successful season that saw the Panthers land in the NCAA Tournament and star player Brianna Kiesel land in the WNBA.
That was enough for the Panthers to hand head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio a lengthy contract extension on Friday.
Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes announced that McConnell-Serio has been extended through the 2020-21 season.
McConnell-Serio came to Pitt from Duquesne in 2013 and quickly turned around the Pitt program.
Last season she led the Panthers to a 20-12 record, which included a 9-7 ACC mark, and the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth in six years.
“Within a very brief period of time, Suzie McConnell-Serio has made a remarkable imprint on women’s basketball at the University of Pittsburgh,” Barnes said. “On and off the floor, she has Pitt on the rise and we are thrilled to announce this commitment to her and our women’s basketball program. Suzie is nationally respected as both a coach and person, and we couldn’t be more excited about her leading our program into the future.”
Pitt has a chance for repeat success this season, with a strong core of players returning and a second consecutive nationally ranked recruiting class coming in.
“I’m thrilled and thankful to receive this tremendous support from Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Scott Barnes,” McConnell-Serio said. “Pittsburgh is my home, this is where I want to be, and it is an honor to serve as Pitt’s head women’s basketball coach. We are excited about the momentum we have as a program right now and even more excited about what we can achieve in the future.”
Photo Credit: Tribune Review
