Former Boston College women’s basketball coach Cathy Inglese died Wednesday, a week after sustaining a brain injury in a fall. She was 60.
Inglese’s family announced the death in a statement posted by sister Nancy Inglese on Facebook.
Inglese coached at Boston College from 1993-2008 and was hired as an assistant coach at Hofstra last month.
“Our hearts are hurting with the passing of Cathy,” Hofstra women’s basketball coach Danielle Santos Atkinson said. “Cathy was one of the kindest and nicest people I have come to know in the coaching industry and in her short time with our program she left an indelible mark. Our entire program and the Hofstra family are heartbroken that she has passed but her memory will continue to influence our program every day we step on the court.”
Inglese coached Boston College to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, reaching the Sweet 16 three times. She led the Eagles to their lone Big East Tournament championship in 2004 when they became the only school to win the title by winning games on four straight days.
Before getting the job at BC, she was the head coach at Vermont, where she led the Catamounts to consecutive undefeated regular seasons in 1992 and 1993. She also was a head coach at Rhode Island after BC before working at Farleigh Dickinson for two years.
Inglese grew up in Connecticut and helped Sheehan High School win a basketball state title in 1976. She went on to play basketball at Southern Connecticut State University, graduating in 1980.
“The entire Hofstra community is devastated with the passing of Cathy,” Hofstra athletic director Rick Cole Jr. said. “Cathy was an amazing person and coach and although part of our family for a short time she had already left a tremendous impact. Those who knew Cathy were touched by her kindness and generosity and her mark on the world of college athletics is immense.”
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