While there were no head coaching changes in the Ivy League for the second straight year, there was plenty of action among the conference’s assistants and directors of basketball operations. Here are some of the highlights:
- Penn’s Ira Bowman, an assistant for the Quakers during Jerome Allen’s last three seasons and Steve Donahue’ first three, has moved to Auburn. Bowman, a two-time Ivy champ at Penn and the 1996 Ivy Player of the Year, is talking over the lead assistant spot under Bruce Pearl. Joe Mihalich, who spent the last three years as Penn’s volunteer assistant, was chosen to take Bowman’s spot on the bench.
Nat Graham, a two time Ivy champ playing at Penn (1993-1995) who has worked as assistant under head coach Steve Donahue for five years at Cornell, four years at Boston College and three years at Penn, was promoted to the position of Associate Head Coach. - Addie Micir, an assistant at Dartmouth for the last five years, joined Courtney Banghart’s staff at Princeton after long-time Tigers assistant Milena Flores left the program. The timing of the opening was fortuitous for both Micir, a three-time All-Ivy and the unanimous Player of the Year in 2011, and her former coach. During the 6/4/18 edition of The Coach Report with Courtney Banghart, the coach mentioned that Micir had just completed a master’s degree at Dartmouth and was two days away from taking a different job.
- Yale’s Allison Guth not only lost her top two players from last year’s WBI championship team, but all three of her assistants have moved to high major programs. Melissa D’Amico, Roman Owen and Jacinda Dunbar had all been with Guth for the last three seasons. In 2018-2019, D’Amico, the co-founder of the non-profit organization PlayBOLD, will be an assistant at Wake Forest of the ACC. Owen recently accepted an offer to become an assistant with Tulsa of the AAC, and Dunbar joined Northwestern of the Big Ten as its Director of Basketball Operations.
- Columbia’s Jim Engles may have lost the play of Lukas Meisner to the Bundesliga, Jaron Faulds to Michigan and Myles Hanson to Xavier, but he did gain the assistant coaching services of Kenny Blakeney. The spot for Blakeney opened up after Director of Basketball Operations Jonathan Safir joined former Lions coach Kyle Smith at the University of San Francisco and Jesse Agel moved from an assistant coaching spot to become the new Assistant to the Head Coach. According to a representative from Columbia Athletics, Agel, a former head coach at Brown, will still be on the bench, but his role will be more administrative and include basketball operations duties.
Blakeney has been out of coaching since the end of the 2012 season, when he left a four-year assistant coaching job at Harvard. In his time with the Crimson, he helped lead the team to two Ivy titles in 2011 and 2012, as well as a secondary recruiting violation in 2010. As reported in The Harvard Crimson, the penalty was based on “improper recruiting assistance” he gave in the summer of 2007 to members of the Harvard coaching staff after meeting with two potential recruits, Max Kenyi (’08-’10) and Keith Wright (’08-’12; ’10-’11 Ivy Player of the Year). Since Blakeney did not have an employment agreement at the time of his recruiting efforts, the violation was categorized as a secondary violation, defined as “inadvertent.” Since leaving Cambridge, the former coach has been in New York running his own apparel company, Sportin’ Styles, and working as a Basketball Marketing Consultant with Under Armour. - Jean Bain left the Columbia men’s program to become the head coach of Brandeis University in early October. Bain joined the Lions in the summer of 2016 as an assistant coach and was named associate head coach one year later. Prior to his work at Columbia, Bain was the associate head coach at Dartmouth from 2012-2016. Bain takes over from Brian Meehan, the Judges’ all-time winningest coach, who was fired over complaints of discrimination and unprofessional behavior, including allegations of racially biased harassment. Brandeis also demoted the vice president of human resources and former athletic director and accepted the resignation of the vice president of student affairs last month after an independent investigation.
- Princeton promoted Brett MacConnell to Associate Head Coach under Mitch Henderson. MacConnell has been with the Tigers for the last six seasons. In his first year, 2012-2013, he was the team’s Director of Basketball Operations and elevated to Assistant Coach prior to the 2013-2014 season. He has also been the team’s recruiting coordinator for the last three years, and will keep that title along with his new position. MacConnell is the second associate head coach at Princeton. The first being former assistant/recruiting coordinator Brian Earl, who was promoted to the associate position on April 1, 2016, 17 days before he left to become the head coach at Cornell.
- Penn’s Director of Basketball Operations (also known as the “DOBO”) Brad Fadem was profiled by City of Basketball Love’s Josh Verlin. This article was part of a series of interviews with all City 6 DOBOs, letting fans know more about these important, but mostly unknown members of the coaching staffs.
As the season approaches, the complete list of staffs, as well as any changes, from 2017-2018 to 2018-2019 for all 16 Ivy teams are noted below.
Brown Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Mike Martin
Associate Head Coach: T. J. Sorrenstine
Assistant Coach: Tyler Simms
Assistant Coach: Bryson Johnson
Operations Coordinator: Brendan Smith
2018-2019
Head Coach: Mike Martin (7th season at Brown & overall)
Associate Head Coach: T. J. Sorrenstine
Assistant Coach: Tyler Simms
Assistant Coach: Antone Gray (from Maine MBB)
Operations Coordinator: Brendan Smith
Brown Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Sarah Behn
Assistant Coach: Sara Binkhorst
Assistant Coach: Tyler Patch (to Merrimack WBB)
Assistant Coach: Jeffrey Kirpas (to Holy Cross WBB)
Operations Coordinator: Sophie Albano-Alisberg (to High Point WBB)
2018-2019
Head Coach: Sarah Behn (5th season at Brown; 13th overall)
Assistant Coach: Eddie Benton (from Cincinnati WBB)
Assistant Coach: Sara Binkhorst
Assistant Coach: Kanika Cummings (from Connecticut College WBB)
Operations Coordinator: Olivia Healy
Columbia Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Jim Engles
Associate Head Coach: Jean Bain (to Brandeis MBB)
Assistant Coach: Jesse Agel
Assistant Coach: Jared Czech
Director of Operations: Jonathan Safir (to San Francisco MBB)
2018-2019
Head Coach: Jim Engles (3rd season at Columbia; 11th overall)
Assistant Coach: Jared Czech
Assistant Coach: Kenny Blakeney (assistant at Harvard MBB ’08-’12)
Assistant Coach: Steve Ongley (from Colby College MBB)
Assistant to Head Coach: Jesse Agel
Columbia Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Megan Griffith
Assistant Coach: Tyler Cordell
Assistant Coach: Greg Rosnick
Assistant Coach: Kerry Connolly
Director of Operations: Megan Roxas
Assoc. Director of Sports Performance: Matthew Herhal
2018-2019
Head Coach: Megan Griffith (3rd season at Columbia & overall)
Assistant Coach: Tyler Cordell
Assistant Coach: Greg Rosnick
Assistant Coach: Kerry Connolly
Director of Operaitons: Megan Roxas
Assoc. Director of Sports Performance: Matthew Herhal
Cornell Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Brian Earl
Assistant Coach: Jon Jaques
Assistant Coach: Donovan Williams
Assistant Coach: Adam Gierlach
Operations: David Robertson
2018-2019
Head Coach: Brian Earl (3rd season at Cornell & overall)
Assistant Coach: Jon Jaques
Assistant Coach: Donovan Williams
Assistant Coach: Alex Mumphard (from Northwestern MBB)
Operations: David Robertson
Cornell Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Dayna Smith
Assistant Coach: Val Klopfer
Assistant Coach: David Elliott
Assistant Coach: Shelby Lyman
Operations: Caroline Nuckolis
2018-2019
Head Coach: Dayna Smith (17th season at Cornell & overall)
Assistant Coach: Val Klopfer
Assistant Coach: David Elliott
Assistant Coach: Shelby Lyman
Operations: Caroline Nuckolis
Dartmouth Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: David McLaughlin
Assistant Coach: Pete Hutchins
Assistant Coach: Mike Quinn (to Boston University MBB)
Assistant Coach: Jabari Trotter (to Hawaii MBB)
Director of Operations: Ben Davis
2018-2019
Head Coach: David McLaughlin (3rd season at Dartmouth; 12.5 overall)
Assistant Coach: Pete Hutchins
Assistant Coach: Justin Bradley (from Williams MBB; assistant at Dartmouth MBB ’15-’16)
Assistant Coach: John Andrzejek (from Johns Hopkins MBB; assistant at Columbia ’12-’15)
Director of Operations: Ben Davis
Dartmouth Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Belle Koclanes
Assistant Coach: Taja Edwards
Assistant Coach: Addie Micir (to Princeton WBB; played for Princeton ’07-’11)
Assistant Coach: Steve Harney (to Rider WBB)
Director of Operations: Michael Motta
2018-2019
Head Coach: Belle Koclanes (6th season at Dartmouth & overall)
Assistant Coach: Taja Edwards
Assistant Coach: Kelcie Rombach (from Providence WBB)
Assistant Coach: Lakin Roland (played for Dartmouth ’12-’16)
Director of Operations: Michael Motta
Harvard Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Tommy Amaker
Assistant Coach: Brian Eskildsen
Assistant Coach: Donny Guerinoni
Assistant Coach: Michael Sotsky
Director of Operations: Casey Brinn
2018-2019
Head Coach: Tommy Amaker (11th season at Harvard; 21st overall)
Assistant Coach: Brian Eskildsen
Assistant Coach: Donny Guerinoni
Assistant Coach: Michael Sotsky
Director of Operations: Casey Brinn
Harvard Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Kathy Delaney-Smith
Associate Head Coach: Mike Roux
Assistant Coach: Jasmine Sborov
Assistant Coach: Megan Straumann
Director of Operations: Heidi Banks
2018-2019
Head Coach: Kathy Delaney-Smith (37th season at Harvard & overall)
Associate Head Coach: Mike Roux
Assistant Coach: Jasmine Sborov
Assistant Coach: Megan Straumann
Director of Operations: Heidi Banks
Penn Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Steve Donahue
Assistant Coach: Nat Graham
Assistant Coach: Ira Bowman (to Auburn MBB; played for Penn ’94-’96)
Assistant Coach: Joe Mihalich
Director of Operations: Brad Fadem
2018-2019
Head Coach: Steve Donahue (4th season at Penn; 18th overall)
Associate Head Coach: Nat Graham (played for Penn ’93-’95)
Assistant Coach: Joe Mihalich
Assistant Coach: Trey Montgomery (from Eastern University MBB)
Director of Operations: Brad Fadem
Penn Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Mike McLaughlin
Assistant Coach: Kelly Killion
Assistant Coach: Bernadette Laukaitis
Assistant Coach: Ashley Robinson
Director of Operations: Christine McCollum
2018-2019
Head Coach: Mike McLaughlin (10th season at Penn; 24th overall)
Assistant Coach: Kelly Killion
Assistant Coach: Bernadette Laukaitis
Director of Operations: Christine McCollum
Princeton Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Mitch Henderson
Assistant Coach: Kerry Kittles
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Brett MacConnell
Assistant Coach: Skye Ettin
Director of Operations: Chris Mongilia
2018-2019
Head Coach: Mitch Henderson (8th season at Princeton & overall)
Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator: Brett MacConnell
Assistant Coach: Skye Ettin
Assistant Coach: Joe Johnson (from Kean MBB)
Director of Operations: Chris Mongilia
Princeton Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart
Assistant Coach: Milena Flores
Assistant Coach: Carrie Moore
Assistant Coach: Kaitlyn Cresencia
Director of Operations: Meghin Williams
2018-2019
Head Coach: Courtney Banghart (12th season at Princeton & overall)
Assistant Coach: Carrie Moore
Assistant Coach: Addie Micir (from Dartmouth WBB; played for Princeton ’07-’11)
Assistant Coach: Cinammon Lister
Director of Operations: Jessica Imhof (from VCU WBB)
Yale Men:
2017-2018
Head Coach: James Jones
Associate Head Coach: Matt Kingsley
Assistant Coach: Justin Simon
Assistant Coach: Tobe Carberry
Director of Operations: Chris Vincent
2018-2019
Head Coach: James Jones (20th season at Yale & overall)
Associate Head Coach: Matt Kingsley
Assistant Coach: Justin Simon
Assistant Coach: Tobe Carberry
Director of Operations: Chris Vincent
Yale Women:
2017-2018
Head Coach: Allison Guth
Assistant Coach: Melissa D’Amico (to Wake Forest WBB)
Assistant Coach: Roman Owen (to Tulsa WBB)
Assistant Coach: Jacinda Dunbar (to Northwestern WBB)
2018-2019
Head Coach: Allison Guth (4th season Yale & overall)
Assistant Coach: Danielle Brown (from Rutgers-Newark WBB)
Assistant Coach: Lashay Banks (from Cincinnati WBB)
Assistant Coach: Emma Golen (from Michigan WBB; played for Harvard ’09-’13)
What happened with Kerry Kittles at Princeton? Did he just want to move on or was he let go?
IHO, please don’t fall for the Harvard bulls–t regarding what Kenny Blakeney did. Back in 2007, the NCAA defined secondary violations as “isolated or inadvertent.” (The definition has since been changed.) In all of the official statements from Harvard regarding Blakeney, the university has always explained that the NCAA defined a secondary violation as “inadvertent,” conveniently omitting the other half of the definition, “isolated.” That is deliberately misleading.
Kenny Blakeney drove 700 miles out of his way in the middle of a recruiting no-contact period to play pick-up basketball with Max Kenyi and Keith Wright. It is an insult to our intelligence for Harvard to characterize Blakeney’s behavior as inadvertent. Nobody drives 700 miles inadvertently.
Kenny Blakeney willfully and knowingly violated NCAA recruiting guidelines at the express direction of head coach Tommy Amaker. Nobody is saying that Blakeney committed murder or treason, but what is most galling about Amaker’s behavior is that, having been caught red-handed, Harvard did not admit the truth and concede that they knowingly broke the rules.
Instead, Harvard aggressively began to maintain that it was all a misunderstanding. The party line has always been that everything was “inadvertent.” Initially, the Ivy League office went along with the charade, deciding not to impose any sanctions on Harvard in 2008. At that point, the NCAA stepped in and declared, “bulls–t.” The NCAA reversed the Ivy decision and imposed sanctions on both Amaker and Harvard in 2010.
After all this, after being sanctioned by the NCAA, the official Harvard position remains it was all an inadvertent misunderstanding. That is a lie.
Why doesn’t Ivy Hoops Online do a little journalistic sleuthing on these matters concerning Harvard recruiting? Somebody should look into the 2011 recruitment of noted Academic Index booster Camden McRae from his high school junior varsity team. There probably has never been a more egregious academic booster in the history of the Ivy League.
Harvard men’s basketball has a long history under Amaker of pushing recruiting rules and guidelines to their very limit. In the interest of fairness, IHO would serve well both Harvard and other Ivy fans by spelling out exactly what Harvard has and has not done.