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According to Mike DiMauro of the New London (CT) Day, Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next women’s basketball coach, replacing Stephanie White who was fired last week after five years and a 46-83 record.
rumors about Shea Ralph appear to be true. Headed to Vandy - hubby Tom Garrick headed there with her. I’m told the announcement is later this week, perhaps Wednesday @UConnWBB #uconn
— Mike DiMauro (@BCgenius) April 13, 2021
Ralph is a 2001 UConn graduate and played on the Huskies’ 2000 national championship team. She spent five years as an assistant coach at Pitt before joining Geno Auriemma’s staff as an assistant in 2008, and she’s now been there for 13 years.
DiMauro also reports that Ralph will be bringing her husband, UMass-Lowell head coach and former Rhode Island star Tom Garrick, with her to Nashville as an assistant coach.
The play here is obvious: Ralph has been part of a coaching staff that, in her 13 years there, has been to 12 Final Fours (the lone exception was 2020, when the tournament wasn’t played) and has won six national championships. On the other hand, this will be her first head coaching job.
UPDATE: Now official from VU.
Welcome to West End, Coach!#AnchorDown
— Vanderbilt WBB (@VandyWBB) April 13, 2021