STORRS, Conn. (July 7, 2008) – Shea Ralph has been named women’s basketball assistant coach at the University of Connecticut, it was announced Monday.

“I am really excited about the opportunity to return to my home and to further my career at the University of Connecticut,” Ralph said. “As a player and a student, I invested everything I had into the program and I am honored to have the chance to continue that as a member of the coaching staff.”

”When you lose someone like Tonya (Cardoza), who has been here for 14 years and has meant so much to our players, staff and program, it is not an easy role to fill,” UConn head coach Geno Auriemma said. “I know that Shea is the one person who can come in that will know exactly what UConn basketball is, what the expectation is, what type of player we want to recruit and how to coach and treat them once they are here. I am excited for our players and program, but most of all for Shea. I am thrilled and looking forward to her bringing the same passion to the coaching staff that she brought as a player. Her intensity is unmatched. I can’t wait to get started.”

Ralph will work primarily with the guards in her new role at Connecticut after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant coach on the women’s basketball staff at the University of Pittsburgh. She will also assist in all facets of recruiting and player development.

During her tenure at Pittsburgh, Ralph was instrumental in the program achieving unprecedented success as the Panthers posted at least 22 wins in each of the last three seasons and advanced to the NCAA Regional round for the first time in its history in 2008. Ralph’s main focus was the development of Pittsburgh’s guards. She was also heavily involved with the team’s conditioning program, individual workouts and scouting.

Ralph returns to UConn where she earned All-America status as a player and was recognized as the 2000 BIG EAST Player of the Year. Ralph was a captain of Connecticut’s 2000 NCAA National Championship Team and finished her career with 1,678 points, which ranks as the eighth best total in UConn annals. She also graduated from UConn ranked among the program’s top-10 career leaders in assists (456), steals (252) and field goal percentage (.579).

In addition, Ralph was honored following the 2000 season as the recipient of the Honda Award, which is presented to the top female athlete in 12 collegiate sports, was named as the Sports Illustrated for Women Player of the Year and was selected as the most valuable player at the 2000 NCAA Final Four.

Ralph, who graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2001 with a degree in exercise physiology, also spent a season (2003) as an assistant coach with the Springfield Spirit of the National Women’s Basketball League. She was selected in the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz, but was unable to compete due to a knee injury.

As a prep player, Ralph was chosen as the National High School Player of the Year while at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, N.C.

TRANSACTIONS: The University of Connecticut names Shea Ralph as women’s basketball assistant coach.