University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Patty Coyle Named Pitt Women's Basketball Associate Head Coach
9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 16, 2011
PITTSBURGH - University of Pittsburgh assistant coach Patty Coyle has been promoted to associate head coach, it was announced by head coach Agnus Berenato on Friday.
“Patty’s experience and work ethic on and off the court is second to none,” said Berenato. “Patty makes us a stronger staff, a stronger team and a better University. I am really excited to have her as my associate head coach. Patty is a winner and I want to be surrounded by winners and I am truly honored to call her both my co-worker and friend.”
Coyle, a native of Philadelphia, arrived at Pitt in 2010 after five seasons as the head coach of the WNBA’s New York Liberty. She led the Liberty to the playoffs in four of five seasons, including two Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Coyle served as an assistant for the squad from 1998-2004, prior to taking over the top spot during the ’04 season.
Prior to her service with the Liberty, Coyle was the head coach at Loyola College in Maryland. She tallied a 100-77 record - becoming the program’s all-time winningest coach - in only six seasons at the helm of the Greyhounds. She guided Loyola to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship game four times in five years, capturing tournament titles in back-to-back seasons (1994, 1995) which paved the way for NCAA postseason tournament appearances.
From 1989-92, Coyle served as an assistant at Saint Joseph's University where in her first two seasons, the Hawks finished a combined 47-15 with two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Coyle started her career as an assistant at her alma mater, Rutgers (1984-89) alongside her former coach and Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz. During her playing career at Rutgers (1978-82), the Lady Knights posted an astonishing 108-22 record. Coyle starred in the backcourt with her twin sister, Mary (Coyle) Klinger - now the head girls’ basketball coach at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, N.J. Klinger was the head coach of the East squad at the 2011 McDonald’s All-American game.
The Coyle twins helped guide Rutgers to the 1982 AIAW National Championship, an 83-77 win over Texas in their hometown of Philadelphia. Coyle scored 30 points in the title game versus Texas, earning MVP honors. She graduated from RU with the fourth highest scoring total (1,209 points) and is currently ranked 22nd in the Rutgers record book.
“I am very humbled by this opportunity. I have been fortunate to have had many great occasions in my life and I consider this one of the highest moments,” said Coyle.
“Coach Berenato knows that each of us on the Pitt coaching staff – myself, Coach Head and Coach Winn - bring a different strength to the table, but that we all are working toward a common goal. I know we will continue to recruit, coach and teach the young women that make the University of Pittsburgh a special place to be.”
