Nancy Fahey

Last updated
Nancy Fahey
Biographical details
Born (1958-11-03) November 3, 1958 (age 65)
Belleville, Wisconsin, U.S.
Playing career
1977–1981 Wisconsin
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1982–1986 Johnsburg HS
1986–2017 Washington University Bears
2017–2022 Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall779–232 (.771)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
Awards
  • 2x WBCA Coach of the Year (2000, 2011)
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Nancy Fahey (born November 3, 1958) [1] is an American retired head women's basketball coach. She coached at the University of Illinois, and she also served as head coach at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where she played college basketball. [2] Fahey was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

Contents

Coaching career

Johnsburg High School

Fahey began her coaching career shortly after graduating from Wisconsin. She was hired as the girls' basketball coach at Johnsburg High School in 1982. [3] Her final two years at the program, she led the Lady Skyhawks to 20-win seasons and regional championships both years. [4]

Washington University in St. Louis ("Wash U")

In 1986, Fahey was named as head women's basketball coach at Washington University in St. Louis. She found some success in her first season with the Bears, going 16–5. The school joined in the newly created University Athletic Association and competition started in the 1987-1988 season. [5] Wash U won the first three and seven of the first eight UAA championships, making the NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament seven of eight years as well. [2] In 1991, despite finishing second in the UAA, Fahey made her first NCAA Tournament run, finishing in fourth place after losing in the Final Four to St. Thomas and the third-place game to Eastern Connecticut. [6] In 1994, the Bears made another deep run into the tournament, this time making the championship game before losing to Capital University. [7]

The 1997-98 season began a new era for Fahey. The Bears went 28–2, winning the national championship over Southern Maine 77-69. [8] The next season, they went an undefeated 30-0, winning the national championship over Saint Benedict 74-65. [9] The next year was much of the same, going 30–0 once again and winning a third straight national championship, this time once again over Southern Maine 79-33. [10] In 2000-01, the team failed to go undefeated, but finished at 28-2 and won their fourth straight national championship over Messiah College 67-45. [11]

Wash U won the UAA conference every year from 1997-98 to 2006-07, again going to the national championship game in 2007. However, they lost to DePauw 55-52. [12] The 2007-08 season was the first time the Bears failed to win 20 games in a season since the national championship run, going 19–8 and finishing second in the conference. However, they rebounded the next year, going 26–5 and losing the national championship game to George Fox University 60-53. [13] In 2009-10, the Bears made their fifth national championship run, this time finishing the season at 29-2 and defeating Hope College 65-59 to take home the title. [14] The following year, despite finishing second in the UAA, the team went to the national championship game for the third consecutive year, losing to Amherst 64-55. [15]

Over the next seven seasons, Fahey would lead Wash U to another four conference championships and advance to the quarterfinals twice (in 2015-16 and 2016–17).

After winning her fifth national championship, Fahey became the first NCAA Division III coach to be admitted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2012. [16]

University of Illinois

On March 22, 2017, Fahey was named as head women's basketball coach at the University of Illinois, following former Washington University in St. Louis athletic director Josh Whitman to the school after he left for Illinois the previous year. [17] After five seasons at Illinois, Fahey announced her retirement on March 4, 2022. She stated, "I want to thank all the coaches and staff members I've worked with for the past 40 years, from Johnsburg High School and Washington University to the University of Illinois. A special thanks to all my players who will always have a special place in my heart. I wish Illinois women's basketball the very best in the future. I'm ready for the next chapter in my life." [18]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Washington University Bears (Independent)(1986–1987)
1986–87Washington University 16–5
Washington University Bears (University Athletic Association)(1987–2017)
1987–88Washington University 21–55–21stNCAA D3 2nd Round
1988–89Washington University 19–69–31st
1989–90Washington University 25–314–01stNCAA D3 1st Round
1990–91Washington University 24–711–32ndNCAA D3 4th Place
1991–92Washington University 22–512–21stNCAA D3 1st Round
1992–93Washington University 22–412–21stNCAA D3 1st Round
1993–94Washington University 26–413–11stNCAA D3 Runner–Up
1994–95Washington University 20–712–21stNCAA D3 1st Round
1995–96Washington University 22–612–22ndNCAA D3 1st Round
1996–97Washington University 19–710–43rdNCAA D3 1st Round
1997–98Washington University 28–213–11stNCAA D3 National Champions
1998–99Washington University 30–014–01stNCAA D3 National Champions
1999–00Washington University 30–015–01stNCAA D3 National Champions
2000–01Washington University 28–214–11stNCAA D3 National Champions
2001–02Washington University 25–114–01stNCAA D3 2nd Round
2002–03Washington University 26–213–11stNCAA D3 Quarterfinals
2003–04Washington University 22–511–31stNCAA D3 Sweet 16
2004–05Washington University 22–511–31stNCAA D3 2nd Round
2005–06Washington University 25–313–11stNCAA D3 Sweet 16
2006–07Washington University 25–612–21stNCAA D3 Runner–Up
2007–08Washington University 19–810–42ndNCAA D3 2nd Round
2008–09Washington University 26–513–11stNCAA D3 Runner–Up
2009–10Washington University 29–213–11stNCAA D3 National Champions
2010–11Washington University 25–611–32ndNCAA D3 Runner–Up
2011–12Washington University 21–610–42ndNCAA D3 2nd Round
2012–13Washington University 22–610–43rdNCAA D3 Sweet 16
2013–14Washington University 24–313–11stNCAA D3 2nd Round
2014–15Washington University 25–312–21stNCAA D3 Sweet 16
2015–16Washington University 23–611–31stNCAA D3 Quarterfinals
2016–17Washington University 26–312–21stNCAA D3 Quarterfinals
Washington University:737–133 (.847)355–58 (.860)
Illinois Fighting Illini (Big Ten Conference)(2017–2022)
2017–18 Illinois 9–22 (.290)0–16 (.000)14th
2018–19 Illinois 10–20 (.333)2–16 (.111)14th
2019–20 Illinois 11–19 (.367)2–16 (.111)13th
2020–21 Illinois 5–18 (.217)2–16 (.111)13th
2021–22 Illinois 7–20 (.259)1–13 (.071)14th
Illinois:42–99 (.298)7–77 (.083)
Total:779–232 (.771)

      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

Sources: [2] [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Summitt</span> American basketball player and coach (1952–2016)

Patricia Susan Summitt was an American women's college basketball head coach who acquired 1,098 career wins, the most in college basketball history at the time of her retirement. She served as the head coach of the University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team from 1974 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament</span> Annual tournament

The NCAA Division III women's basketball championship is the annual tournament to determine the national champions of women's NCAA Division III collegiate basketball in the United States. It was held annually from 1982, when the NCAA began to sponsor women's sports at all three levels, through 2019. No championship was held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19 issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois State Redbirds</span> Collegiate sports club in the United States

The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level. The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The fight song is Go, You Redbirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brenda Frese</span> American basketball player and coach

Brenda Sue Frese is an American women's basketball head coach and former player. Since 2002, she has served as the head coach of the University of Maryland women's basketball team. In her fourth year as head coach, she won the 2006 Women's National Championship. She won the 2009 ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships – the women's first ACC Championship since 1989. She won another ACC Championship in 2012 and reached another Final Four in 2014. Maryland moved to the Big Ten for the 2014–15 season and Frese led the Terrapins to an undefeated 18–0 conference record and a Big Ten Regular Season Championship in their first year in the Big Ten. The Terrapins advanced to their second straight Final Four and third under Frese in 2015. She was voted AP National Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2021, ACC Coach of the Year in 2013, Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2002, 2015, 2019, and 2021, and MAC Coach of the Year in 2000. At Maryland, she's coached four ACC Players of the Year and four ACC Freshmen of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Martz</span> American volleyball player (born 1977)

Jennifer Martz is an American former volleyball player for the Washington University Bears of the NCAA Division III University Athletic Association (UAA). Martz was the 1997 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Player of the Year, a four-time AVCA All-American, two-time NCAA Division III national champion, a 1998 second team Academic All-America selection, three-time UAA Player of the Year and the 1999 NCAA Division III Missouri Woman Athlete of the Year.

Theresa Marie Shank Grentz is an American college basketball coach. Her coaching career spanned five decades, with over 680 career wins, multiple national and conference coaching awards, and a national championship. She is a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wendy Dillinger is an American former professional soccer player and coach. She served as the head soccer coach at Washington University in St. Louis, Iowa State University, and the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and as an assistant at Indiana University.

Mary Camille "Kamie" Ethridge is a former American basketball player and current basketball coach. She was an All-American point guard at the University of Texas at Austin and won a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics. She is considered one of the best women's basketball players in history and was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Ethridge is currently the head coach at Washington State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington University Bears</span> Athletic teams representing Washington University in St. Louis

The Washington University Bears are the athletic teams of Washington University in St. Louis, located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Washington University is currently a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the NCAA Division III level. The Bears compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Case Western Reserve Spartans</span> Varsity intercollegiate athletic team

The Case Western Reserve Spartans are the varsity intercollegiate athletic teams of Case Western Reserve University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Case Western Reserve University competes at the NCAA Division III level. The Spartans compete in the University Athletic Association (UAA), except in football where the team competes as an associate member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). The university offers 19 sports—10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Vandersloot</span> American and Hungarian basketball player

Courtney Vandersloot is an American and Hungarian basketball point guard for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for Fenerbahçe in the EuroLeague Women. Drafted by the Chicago Sky with the third pick in the 2011 WNBA draft, she was selected as an All-Star and named to the All-Rookie Team in her rookie year. She was named an All-Star again in 2019, 2021 and 2023, and led the Sky to their first WNBA Championship in 2021. She led the WNBA in assists in 2014 and for five consecutive seasons during 2017–2021, and holds the all-time WNBA records for highest assists-per-game in a season (9.1) and highest career assists-per-game (6.7).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Golden Bears women's basketball</span> College womens basketball team representing the University of California, Berkeley

The California Golden Bears women's basketball team is the women's college basketball team of the University of California, Berkeley. The program has been to the NCAA tournament a total of nine times, and won three conference championships. The current head coach is Charmin Smith, who was hired on June 21, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball</span> College basketball team

The Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University and competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) of the NCAA Division II. On April 28, 2023, Brian Ostermann was announced as the eighth head coach.

Kay Noel "Katie" Abrahamson-Henderson is the current head coach of the University of Georgia's women's basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2016–17 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini, led by fifth-year head coach Matt Bollant, played their home games at the State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 9–22, 3–13 in Big Ten play to finish in a four-way for 11th place. They advanced to the second round of the Big Ten women's tournament by beating Wisconsin before they lost to Purdue.

The 2017 Case Western Reserve Spartans football team represented Case Western Reserve University as a member of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) during the 2017 NCAA Division III football season. The team was coached by 14th-year head coach Greg Debeljak and played its home games at DiSanto Field in Cleveland. The Spartans won both the PAC at 8–0 and the University Athletic Association (UAA) at 2–0, finishing the regular season an undefeated 10–0.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2017–18 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini, led by first-year head coach Nancy Fahey, played their home games at State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference. They finished the season 9–21, 0–16 in Big Ten play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the Big Ten women's tournament to Penn State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020–21 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2020–21 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini, led by fourth-year head coach Nancy Fahey, played their home games at State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, they played fewer non-conference games than in previous seasons; three games were originally postponed and later canceled due to the pandemic. They finished the season 5–18, 2–16 in Big Ten play to finish in thirteenth place. They lost in the second round of the Big Ten women's tournament to Northwestern. Their first round win against Wisconsin was the first Big Ten tournament victory in coach Fahey's tenure at Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2021–22 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini, led by fifth-year head coach Nancy Fahey, played their home games at State Farm Center as members of the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2022–23 Illinois Fighting Illini women's basketball team represented the University of Illinois during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Fighting Illini were led by first-year head coach Shauna Green, and they played their home games at State Farm Center. This season marked the program's 41st season as a member of the Big Ten Conference.

References

  1. ↑ "Women's Basketball Coaches Career". NCAA. Retrieved 28 September 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Washington University Bio". Washington University. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Johnsburg Girls Basketball Coach History
  4. ↑ Nancy Fahey Named Illinois Women's Basketball Coach
  5. ↑ UAA Historical Background
  6. ↑ 1991 D3 Women's Tournament
  7. ↑ 1994 D3 Women's Tournament
  8. ↑ 1998 D3 Women's Tournament
  9. ↑ 1999 D3 Women's Tournament
  10. ↑ 2000 D3 Women's Tournament
  11. ↑ 2001 D3 Women's Tournament
  12. ↑ 2007 D3 Women's Tournament
  13. ↑ 2009 D3 Women's Tournament
  14. ↑ 2010 D3 Women's Tournament
  15. ↑ 2011 D3 Women's Tournament
  16. ↑ WBHOF Fahey Profile
  17. ↑ Fahey Named Head Women's Basketball Coach
  18. ↑ "Nancy Fahey Announces Retirement After 36 Years on the Sidelines". fightingillini.com. University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ All–time Division III women's basketball champions
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.