In a very unexpected move today, Notre Dame's Hall of Fame women's basketball head coach Muffet McGraw announced her retirement from coaching. Assistant Coach Niele Ivey is expected to replace McGraw as head coach.
McGraw was one of the "Golden Era" head coaches of women's collegiate basketball, along with Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Leon Barmore, Vivian Stringer, and Geno Auriemma. McGraw led the Fighting Irish to two NCAA National Championships in 2001 and 2018, five runner-up finishes, and two other Final Four appearances. She had a career 936-292 record as head coach, stopping just shy of becoming only the 7th coach all time in women's collegiate basketball, to record 1,000 career wins.
This past season, Notre Dame experienced an unusual season of struggle, finishing only 13-18 and assured of missing the NCAAT for the first time since the 1994-95 season - a run of 24 seasons - after reaching the championship game against Baylor the season before. A perfect storm of multiple graduations of top players from the season before, as well as a couple of transfers and a couple of injuries left the roster very thin and inexperienced.
McGraw's frustrations and emotions got the best of her during post-game pressers, which told how stressful the season was on her. But the Irish was expected to rebound next season, with several talented players returning from last season, as well as a strong incoming 2020 class that featured four 5*-rated prospects. But McGraw decided to hang it up....
McGraw was one of the "Golden Era" head coaches of women's collegiate basketball, along with Pat Summitt, Tara VanDerveer, Leon Barmore, Vivian Stringer, and Geno Auriemma. McGraw led the Fighting Irish to two NCAA National Championships in 2001 and 2018, five runner-up finishes, and two other Final Four appearances. She had a career 936-292 record as head coach, stopping just shy of becoming only the 7th coach all time in women's collegiate basketball, to record 1,000 career wins.
This past season, Notre Dame experienced an unusual season of struggle, finishing only 13-18 and assured of missing the NCAAT for the first time since the 1994-95 season - a run of 24 seasons - after reaching the championship game against Baylor the season before. A perfect storm of multiple graduations of top players from the season before, as well as a couple of transfers and a couple of injuries left the roster very thin and inexperienced.
McGraw's frustrations and emotions got the best of her during post-game pressers, which told how stressful the season was on her. But the Irish was expected to rebound next season, with several talented players returning from last season, as well as a strong incoming 2020 class that featured four 5*-rated prospects. But McGraw decided to hang it up....
