Tierney named COW women’s basketball coach
Mary Kate Tierney has been named the ninth head coach in the history of The College of Wooster women’s basketball program.
Mary Kate Tierney, a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association All-American at Ithaca College, has been tabbed to serve as the ninth head coach of The College of Wooster’s women’s basketball program. Tierney starts her duties at Wooster on July 1.
“Mary Kate’s experience as a coach and student of the game will be invaluable to the development of our student-athletes,” said Amy Heasley Williams, Wooster’s director of athletics and physical education. “She is a skilled recruiter, whose focus on the team approach will build an important foundation for the success of our women’s basketball team. Throughout the search process, her passion for the sport was infectious and her desire to create a competitive and winning culture was evident. She is a dynamic leader who is ready to make a difference in all the right ways at Wooster by nurturing thoughtful and confident students for success both on and off the court. I look forward to everything she will bring to our program, our department, and the College, as a teacher, recruiter, and mentor. I am excited to welcome Mary Kate to the Fighting Scot family.”
“It is truly an honor and privilege to be named the next head women’s basketball coach at The College of Wooster,” said Tierney. “Wooster is an outstanding institution with a rich history of providing a tremendous student-athlete experience. I would like to thank Amy Heasley Williams, and the entire search committee, led by Katelynn Hovlid, for entrusting me with this opportunity. I look forward to building a women’s basketball program that The College of Wooster campus community can be proud of.”
Tierney arrives in Wooster following a stint as an assistant coach at Case Western Reserve University. There, Tierney was involved in all aspects of the program, including executing practice drills, skill development, and offensive and defensive strategy. Prior to working at CWRU, Tierney spent two seasons at her alma mater. At Ithaca, Tierney helped guide the Bombers to the 2019 NCAA Div. III national quarterfinals, two NCAA Tournament appearances, a pair of Liberty League titles, and she mentored a WBCA All-American. Tierney served as the program’s recruiting coordinator, while working closely with the head coach on daily operations and strategic game planning.
Tierney’s coaching career started at Dickinson College, where the standout guard spent two seasons. She then took an assistant role at New York University, serving as the Violets’ recruiting and travel coordinator, while assisting with daily operations. While at NYU, Tierney coached Kaitlyn Read, the 2018 winner of the prestigious Jostens Trophy, one of Div. III basketball’s most coveted awards.
As a senior at Ithaca, Tierney was an honorable mention WBCA All-American and a second-team D3hoops.com All-East selection. The All-Empire 8 Athletic Conference first-team honoree paced the Bombers with 13.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, pairing that with 122 assists, 48 steals, 31 blocked shots, and a 43.1 (72-of-167) three-point percentage. Tierney’s 72 3-pointers marked a new single-season Ithaca record, while the then-senior’s 426 points and 264 rebounds rank as the sixth-most in single-season program history.
A native of Rochester, New York, Tierney graduated from Ithaca with a bachelor’s in business administration with a management concentration and went on to earn an MBA from Marist College.
Wooster’s women’s basketball program is set to embark on its 58th season later this fall.