Former SUNY Plattsburgh Associate Head Coach rounds out Trisha Brown's staff
EASTON, Mass. (August 9, 2013) – Stonehill College has announced that Whitney Edwards has been named an assistant coach for the women's basketball program. The announcement was made by head coach Trisha Brown and confirmed by Brendan Sullivan, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at the College.
"Whitney is a phenomenal addition to the Stonehill basketball family," said Brown. "In her most recent role, at SUNY Plattsburgh, she assisted in all aspects of the program, so she brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Skyhawks. We are incredibly fortunate to have someone as talented as Whitney join our program."
Edwards spent three seasons at SUNY Plattsburgh as an assistant coach, assuming the role of associate head coach under Cheryl Cole for the 2012-13 season. The Cardinal reached the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Tournament semifinal round this past season after also earning postseason appearances in the SUNYAC Tournament over her first two years. The women's basketball program improved its win total by 11 over the course of Edwards three seasons.
Edwards assisted in all areas of the Plattsburgh program with a focus on player development, recruiting and monitoring academic progress and was also assistant camp director for the women's basketball team. In addition to her coaching duties, she served in several administrative capacities within the athletic department as co-advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and co-instructor for CHAMPS Life Skills program.
Prior to her time at Plattsburgh, Edwards served one season as head coach of the girl's varsity basketball team at Convent of Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Conn., leading the team to the first round of the Fairchester Athletic Association tournament. Prior to taking over as head coach, Edwards was as assistant coach at Sacred Heart for one year and has also coached AAU basketball with Future Stars in Westchester, N.Y., at the 15 and 11-year old age groups.
Edwards was a four-year member of the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team and was named the Wildcats best defensive player three of her four years in Durham. The America East Conference named Edwards to its All-Defensive Team in 2006 and 2007 and honored her as its 2007 Defensive Player of the Year. She co-captained the squad during the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons and finished her career second all-time in steals (229) and assists (382).
Following her graduation from UNH with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in deaf studies in 2007, Edwards played point guard for a season with the Spartak Myjava Basketball Club in Slovakia. She recently completed her master's degree in leadership from Plattsburgh in May.
"As a player and a coach, Whitney's basketball career has been about success," said Brown. "She brings a great competitiveness and outstanding knowledge of the game to our program."
Stonehill (24-5, 19-3 NE-10), ranked 12th in the final regular season USA TODAY Sports/Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II poll, earned its 21st NCAA Tournament appearance this past season after posting the 23rd 20-win season in the program's 42 year history. The Skyhawks boasted a 14-1 record at Merkert Gymnasium and made a 32nd-straight appearance in the Northeast-10 tournament after finishing second in the regular season standings.
Stonehill opens its 2013-14 season November 9-10 when it competes at the Nova Southeastern University Classic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Skyhawks first home game is Wednesday, November 20, when it hosts Merrimack College for their Northeast-10 Conference opener in Merkert Gymnasium at 5:30 p.m.
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