Jennifer Rizzotti

Last updated
Jennifer Rizzotti
Jen Rizzotti at Govenor's Mansion.jpg
Connecticut Sun
Position President
League WNBA
Personal information
Born (1974-05-15) May 15, 1974 (age 50)
White Plains, New York, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)
Listed weight146 lb (66 kg)
Career information
High school New Fairfield
(New Fairfield, Connecticut)
College UConn (1992–1996)
WNBA draft 1999: 4th round, 48th overall pick
Selected by the Houston Comets
Playing career1996–2003
Position Point guard
Number21
Coaching career1999–present
Career history
As player:
1996–1998 New England Blizzard
1999–2000 Houston Comets
2001–2003 Cleveland Rockers
As coach:
1999–2016 Hartford
2016–2021 George Washington
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

  • 5× America East tournament champion (2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011)
  • 4× America East regular season champion (2006–2008, 2010)
  • A-10 Tournament champion (2018)
  • 2× America East Coach of the Year (2006, 2007)
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
Medals
Women's Basketball
Jones Cup
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1996 Taipei Team Competition
Head Coach for Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
FIBA Under-19 World Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Puerto Montt Team Competition
Head Coach for Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Colorado Springs Team Competition
Assistant Coach for Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Colorado Springs Team Competition

Jennifer Marie Rizzotti (born May 15, 1974) [1] is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball player, and former Division I coach at George Washington University. [2] [3] She is the president of the Connecticut Sun. Rizzotti was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Contents

High school

Rizzotti attended New Fairfield High School in New Fairfield, Connecticut. The basketball court at the New Fairfield town park was named after Rizzotti in honor of her achievements. She also attended ASIJ in Tokyo, Japan.

College

From 1992 to 1996, she was one of the stars of the women's basketball team at the University of Connecticut. She was the starting point guard on the Huskies first national championship team in 1995, which recorded a perfect season, winning all 35 games. Rizzotti's picture was on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in recognition of the perfect season. [4] Jen was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup for 1995–96, presented to the athlete "most deserving of recognition as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year." [5] She was named the 1996 Associated Press Player of the Year. [6] Rizzotti was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program. [7] Rizzotti won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award during the 1995–96 basketball season. [8] This award is given to the best women's basketball player in the country under 5'6' tall. During the 1995–96 season Jennifer set school records for assists with 212 and steals with 112. Jennifer graduated with a degree in biology.

Sports Illustrated did a series of thirteen photographs featuring players on teams that were chasing or achieved undefeated seasons. The cover photo of Jennifer Rizzoti racing upcourt is one of the photos in the collection. [9]

USA Basketball – player

Rizzotti was invited to be a member of the Jones Cup team representing the US in 1996. She helped the team to a 9–0 record, and the gold medal in the event. Rizzotti averaged 2.6 points per games, while recording 26 assists, highest on the team. [10]

Awards and honors

Professional

She began her career as a professional basketball player playing for the New England Blizzard of the now defunct American Basketball League. During that time she was a two-time All-Star, [6] Rizzotti was a member of the Houston Comets after being drafted in 1999, [14] and played for the Comets in 1999 and 2000. The Comets won the League Championship both seasons. [15] In 2001, she was traded to the Detroit Shock, but a month later, she was traded to the Cleveland Rockers. [15] She played for the Cleveland Rockers from 2001 to 2003. Rizzotti was selected in the dispersal draft by the Detroit Shock in January 2004, but she retired from the WNBA. [15]

Coaching

Rizzotti was recently the head basketball coach at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. [3] She previously spent 17 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at the University of Hartford where she led the Hawks to four America East Conference championships and six trips to the NCAA tournament. She was named America East Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007, and 2010. [16] In 2010 Rizzotti guided Hartford to an undefeated regular season in the America East Conference and was one of the 10 finalists up for the Kay Yow Coach of the Year.

Rizzotti served as the head coach of the USA Basketball U18 team, at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women in June 2010 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs CO. [17] [18] She previously served as an assistant coach of the U18 team, assisting head coach Doug Bruno in 2006, when the team went 4–0 to win the gold medal. [19]

In 2011, Rizzotti was named USA Basketball National Coach of the Year. She was the head coach for the USA U18 team, which won the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship. She continued as head coach of the U19 team and guided the team to another gold medal at the FIBA U19 World Championship games held in Chile. [20]

Hall of Fame

Rizzotti was inducted in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in June 2013. In her emotional acceptance speech she summarized, "I'm in the Hall of Fame because I played at the right school, at the right time with the right teammates, and I was taught to be a champion by the best coach who's ever coached the game." [21] Her credentials included point guard on the 1995 National Championship team, and winner of the Wade Trophy and AP national player of the year award. [22] [23]

Personal life

Rizzotti grew up in New Fairfield, Connecticut and graduated from New Fairfield High School in 1992. [24] She is the daughter of Tom and Carol Rizzotti. [24]

Rizzotti was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2001. [15] [25]

Rizzotti married University of Hartford assistant Bill Sullivan in July 1999. The two welcomed their first child, Holden Thomas Sullivan, born 16 April 2005 (age 19). The couple's second child, Conor, was born on 8 July 2008 (age 16).

Rizzotti was honored by her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, as the winner of the Red O'Neill Award, an award given annually to a former student athlete who has "gone on to distinguish themselves in their chosen career." [26]

Rizzotti was honored by The University of Hartford in 2010 as commencement speaker. Additionally she received an honorary doctorate degree from the university. [27]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 TO  Turnovers per game FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 Bold Career best°League leader

WNBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1999 Houston 2509.735.026.958.31.10.80.70.00.61.7
2000 Houston 32213.738.230.866.71.11.40.50.10.81.9
2001 Cleveland 32014.938.238.463.60.91.60.80.11.33.7
2002 Cleveland 262526.740.038.480.02.73.30.90.11.76.8
2003 Cleveland 33015.927.819.656.31.32.00.40.01.11.8
Career5 years, 2 teams1482716.036.733.069.31.41.80.60.11.13.1

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGTOPPG
1999 Houston 202.50.00.00.00.50.50.00.00.00.0
2000 Houston 103.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
2001 Cleveland 3015.033.333.30.01.02.30.00.00.02.0
2003 Cleveland 3012.066.766.70.00.72.70.00.00.34.0
Career4 years, 2 teams909.942.942.90.00.71.80.00.00.12.0

College

Jennifer Rizzotti Statistics [28] at University of Connecticut
Year G FG FGA PCT 3FG 3FGA PCT FT FTA PCT REB AVG A TO B S MIN PTS AVG
1992–93291162880.403531420.373731180.6191254.3104116160100635812.3
1993–94331102390.46541260.42952780.6671113.4150904809923269.9
1994–95351563080.506571380.41369940.734972.81618629890543812.5
1995–96381483350.442431580.272791120.7051263.32221152112123041811.0
Totals13553011700.4532075640.3672734020.6794593.463740793504133154011.1

Head coaching record

Source: [29] [30]

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Hartford Hawks (America East Conference)(1999–2016)
1999–2000Hartford 14–149–95th
2000–01Hartford 15–149–9T–4th
2001–02 Hartford 16–159–7T–4th NCAA First Round
2002–03Hartford 7–215–118th
2003–04Hartford 18–129–9T–4th
2004–05Hartford 22–913–52nd NCAA First Round
2005–06Hartford 27–415–11st NCAA Second Round
2006–07Hartford 25–915–11st WNIT Second Round
2007–08 Hartford 28–614–21st NCAA Second Round
2008–09Hartford 20–1214–22nd WNIT Second Round
2009–10 Hartford 27–516–01st NCAA First Round
2010–11 Hartford 17–1611–5T–3rd NCAA First Round
2011–12 Hartford 19–1310–63rd WNIT First Round
2012–13 Hartford 21–1210–63rd WNIT First Round
2013–14 Hartford 13–189–75th
2014–15 Hartford 16–178–85th
2015–16 Hartford 11–197–96th
Hartford:316–216 (.594)183–97 (.654)
George Washington Colonials (Atlantic 10 Conference)(2016–2021)
2016–17 George Washington 20–1013–3T-1st WNIT First Round
2017–18 George Washington 19–1310–6T-5th NCAA First Round
2018–19 George Washington 10–207–9T-8th
George Washington:49–43 (.533)30–18 (.625)
Total:365–259 (.585)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Jennifer Rizzotti". George Washington University. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  2. ↑ Courant, Hartford. "It's Official: Jen Rizzotti Leaving UHart To Coach At George Washington". courant.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
  3. 1 2 "GW and Jen Rizzotti Part Ways – George Washington University Athletics". George Washington University Athletics. Retrieved 2021-03-15.
  4. ↑ "SI Covers". Sports Illustrated. pp. Cover. Archived from the original on August 6, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  5. ↑ "Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year". Archived from the original on 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
  6. 1 2 "Jennifer Rizzotti, Head Women's Basketball Coach". University of Hartford. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor"". Archived from the original on 2009-08-07. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  8. ↑ "Frances Pomeroy Naismith". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2014-07-15. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  9. ↑ "In Search of Perfection". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "1996 Women's R. William Jones Cup". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL". THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Past Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup)". THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Connecticut's Rizzotti Is Named Top Women's College Athlete". Los Angeles Times. 1997-01-14. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
  14. ↑ "Houston Comets Draft History" . Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Porter p 399
  16. ↑ "Coach of the Year". Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
  17. ↑ "Draw Announced For 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Women". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  18. ↑ "College Rizzotti To Coach U.S. U-18 Team". Hartford Courant. 30 March 2010. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  19. ↑ "USA Women's FIBA Americas U18 Championship All-Time Coaching Staff". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 3 January 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  20. ↑ "Jennifer Rizzotti Named USA Basketball Coach Of The Year". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  21. ↑ Cornelius, Maria M. (June 9, 2013). "Six enter Women's Basketball HOF". ESPN. Retrieved 9 Jun 2013.
  22. ↑ "The Wade Trophy". Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 30 Jun 2014.
  23. ↑ "They're the class of 2013". ESPN. June 7, 2013. Retrieved 9 Jun 2013.
  24. 1 2 Porter p 398
  25. ↑ "Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame". Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame. Archived from the original on 2008-07-06. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  26. ↑ "Hartford coach honored by UConn". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 21 April 2010.
  27. ↑ "UNOTES Daily – Your Source for Campus News and Information". Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2010-05-17.
  28. ↑ "UConn Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 18, 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2008.
  29. ↑ "All-time standings" (PDF). Women's Basketball Record Book. America East Conference. pp. 1–4. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  30. ↑ "Am. East Standings – 2015–16". ESPN. Retrieved August 9, 2016.

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