Shea Ralph is hired as Vanderbilt head womens basketball coach on April 13, 2021. Uconn won the Big East Regular season championship and the post-season Big East tournament championship all four years. [10] Despite barely eating, she still managed to score 3,002 points in her high school career.[11]. 2023 www.tennessean.com. Ralph became a coach after playing career ended due to multiple ACL tears in college. 2022-23 Media Center. (Twitter/@VandyWBB), Betsy Goodfriend, Deputy Sports Editor April 13, 2021. I owe it to myself, I owe it to our student-athletes and I owe it to the university to make sure that the right people are in place. Ralph received just over $272,000 and Moseley was paid just over $200,600. Her final game was memorialized in Jeff Goldberg's book Bird at the Buzzer, a game some have termed the "greatest women's basketball game ever played". Ralph and her husband, Tom Garrick, have one daughter, Maysen. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday, a week after firing Stephanie White following five seasons. Shea Sydney Ralph (born March 12, 1978) [1] is a former collegiate basketball player and current head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team. While the team was able to win their first three NCAA matches without Ralph, they lost to Tennessee in the regional final. She opted to sit out the first year so her knees could recover, but she never ended up playing in the league. Ralph, 43, played for Geno Auriemma at UConn from 1996-2001, earning All-America honors and helping the Huskies win the 2000 NCAA title. Harbison played 37 minutes and Garraud played 34. [33] She finished her college career with 1,678 points. Since then, she has been a part of a coaching staff that has led the Huskies to six more national championships, including four in a row from 2013-2016. At halftime Ralph told her teammates that she had just "tweaked" it, and she would be back. Our most popular newsletter, Daily Briefing, to keep you updated on the day's top stories. After she earned the USA Player of the Year award, she was interviewed by USA Today, who asked about her recruiting decision. [17] She also earned national freshman of the year honors from both the United States Basketball Writers Association and The Sporting News. "Shea has had a huge impact on the UConn womens basketball program, as both a player and a coach. she said, "That's about it."[41]. [7], While in high school, Shea began a multi-year battle with anorexia nervosa. UConn's Shea Ralph heads to Vanderbilt as new women's basketball head coach. Full access on your desktop, tablet and mobile device. . Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday morning, April 13, 2021, a week after firing Stephanie White. But if you suck, you won't play at all." Together we will invest in each other and build a greatness that transcends the game of basketball.. "We haven't made any decisions right now; I'm not ready to talk about that. The No. The low point came in a game against Big East rival Notre Dame in January, a match-up between two undefeated teams ranked number one and number two in the country. COACH SEARCH: How did Vanderbilt get women's basketball coach Shea Ralph to leave UConn? Vanderbilt is making a push in athletics with "Vandy United," a $300 million dollar investment that includes the construction of new basketball facilities. Vanderbilts rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people," Ralph said. Ralph takes over a program that hasnt reached the NCAA Tournament in seven years despite a history featuring 26 berths, 15 trips to the Sweet 16, five Elite Eights and a Final Four in 1993. If you are really, really good, then you'll have a chance to play a lot. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma, who Ralph played for and coached under, also gave a statement about her hire. At one point, she scored eight consecutive points for the Huskies to help them turn a deficit into a slim 3128 lead. The experience convinced her that she wanted to become a head coach, but she recognized she had a lot to learn. Ralph, 43, comes to Vanderbilt after spending 13 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut. We're really focused right now on just immersing myself in the community, meeting the team. American college basketball player and coach, Current women's basketball head coaches of the, Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball head coaches, Big East Conference Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year, Big East Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year, Big East Women's Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player, List of Connecticut women's basketball players with 1000 points, "Ralph to Lead Vanderbilt Women's Basketball", "North Carolina High School Athletic Association", "WBCA High School All-America Game Box Scores", "Connecticut turns up defensive heat, scorches Tennessee for national title", "Shea Ralph | CT Women's Basketball Hall of Fame", "Women's Basketball 1995 National Championship Team to be Recognized as "Huskies of Honor", "Pitt finishes season losing 12 in a row", "COLLEGE BASKETBALL; Former UConn Star Trades Dreams", "PAST HONDA SPORTS AWARD WINNERS FOR BASKETBALL", "ALL-TIME NCHSAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL STATE TOURNAMENT RECORDS", "Shea Ralph hires husband Tom Garrick as Vanderbilt women's basketball associate head coach", NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shea_Ralph&oldid=1142314692, All-American college women's basketball players, Basketball players from Raleigh, North Carolina, Pittsburgh Panthers women's basketball coaches, Sportspeople from Raleigh, North Carolina, Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball coaches, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 6x NCAA champion (assistant) (200910, 201316), 1995 USA Today National High School Player of the Year, Most steals in a season (second place) (251), Most steals in a career (second place) (701), Most points in a sophomore season (second place) (818), Most points in a season by a junior (1,135), Most points in a season by a senior (1,049), Most points in a single tournament game (52), This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 18:43. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Vanderbilt University and its official representatives. In all, Ralph accrued the second-most wins of any womens basketball coach in a debut season. Our most popular newsletter, Daily Briefing, to keep you updated on the day's top stories. In the press release, athletic director Candice Storey Lee expressed her excitement for Ralphs hire. Shea Ralph Head Coach phone 615.343.8482 Email chris.brann@vanderbilt.edu Shea Ralph was named the sixth head coach in Vanderbilt women's basketball history on April 13, 2021. A knee injury kept her from playing in the WNBA after she was drafted by the Utah Starzz in 2001. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Years before Vanderbilt basketball head coach Shea Ralph's generation helped set a standard for women who aspire and act to change the world through sports, her mother, Marsha Lake, traveled to . UConn women's basketball assistant coach Shea Ralph has been named the head coach of the Vanderbilt University women's basketball team. It just asked. The US then outscored Japan 233 to take a small lead at the half. Coach Ralph has earned the opportunity to take the reins of our womens basketball program and transform it into what we all know is possible, Lee said. Stats. He has spent the past three seasons as womens coach at UMass Lowell. KNOXVILLE Shea Ralph and Brinae Alexander agreed: Despite the scoreboard in Vanderbilt's 66-52 loss to Tennessee, Sunday was one of the Commodores' best performances in Ralph's first season as coach of the Commodores. She was selected at the most valuable player in the 2000 NCAA Womens Final Four. [31] UConn went on to win the game on a buzzer-beater by Sue Bird, but Ralph's college career was over. Coach Ralph has earned the opportunity to take the reins of our womens basketball program and transform it into what we all know is possible, Lee said. At the time of the award she held 17 state basketball records, including 39.1 points per game as a junior, a 71.6 percent shooting percentage from the floor as a junior, and 18 assists in one game. Multiple reports say that Ralph will move to Nashville with her husband Tom Garrick, who could join her staff as an assistant. 7 Vanderbilt battles back against Austin Peay to pick up sixth win of the season, 11-7, Vanderbilt looks to make a run in SEC tournament as 12 seed, The official student newspaper of Vanderbilt University, Betsy Goodfriend, Former Deputy Sports Editor, 2023 | The Hustler is not operated by Vanderbilt University. "So those kids are out there. . [4] The Terry Sanford High School graduate is best known for her basketball prowess, but she also lettered in soccer, cross-country, and track. She also ranked among the programs top 10 career leaders in assists (456), steals (252) and field goal percentage (.579). In her inaugural season, Ralph led Vanderbilt to its first postseason appearance since 2014. [9] Playing basketball was her first love, and benching her from playing did get her to eat;[8] however, that only lasted until her first ACL tear. Some felt that the salary paid was out of line with her education credentials. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Ralph is a 2008 inductee into the Fayetteville Sports Club Hall of Fame[44] on the basis of her high school, college and coaching accomplishments. [42] When Tonya Cardoza left UConn to take the head coaching position at Temple University, the school needed a new assistant. Many programs pursued her, but two schools appeared to have better chances than Connecticut. Barely two weeks later, Vandy earned its first victory of the new era against a Power 5 opponent, defeating Rutgers in the Paradise Jam. Ralph started her coaching career as an assistant coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 2003. She also ranked among the programs top 10 career leaders in assists (456), steals (252) and field goal percentage (.579). Garrick was a part of multiple NCAA Tournament teams at Vanderbilt and played in the NBA from 1988 to 1992 after playing college basketball at Rhode Island. 2022-23 Media Guide. While Ralph did not confirm Garrick's hiring on Wednesday, she did acknowledge that he is moving to Nashville. [5] Ralph was named a High School All-American by the WBCA. FILE - Connecticut assistant coach Shea Ralph reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Temple in Philadelphia, in this Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, file photo. She averaged 16.7 points a game as a sophomore, the highest mark of her career. Ralph called Geno Auriemma, the Connecticut coach, to ask what kind of role he envisioned for her at UConn. [32], Shea was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program. [6], In 1996 she was named the USA Today National High School Player of the Year. She was named thenational high school player of the year in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Ralph was selected by the Utah Starzz in the 2001 WNBA Draft, but was unable to pursue a professional career due to a knee injury. Ralph, a graduate of UConn, has been an assistant coach for the Huskies for the past 13 years. After beginning her coaching career as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, she returned to Connecticut and joined Auriemmas coaching staff in 2008. Ralph started out on fire. Ralph said Wednesday during her introductory press conference that she has a shortlist of candidates in mind for her inaugural staff at Vanderbilt. [2] [3] He was the head women's basketball coach at UMass Lowell from 2018 to 2021, before he returned to Vanderbilt as an assistant to his wife Shea Ralph , who became head coach there. Shea Sydney Ralph (born March 12, 1978)[1] is a former collegiate basketball player and current head coach for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday, a week after firing Stephanie White following five seasons. Vanderbilt has its new women's basketball coach in longtime UConn assistant Shea Ralph. [9] A preseason second ACL tear caused her to miss the entire 199798 season. Ralph graduated from Connecticut in 2001 with a degree in exercise physiology. This season she will be the highest-paid coach in all of women's basketball thanks to a $300,000. Garrick was also head coach at Rhode Island (2003-09) and an assistant at Boston College (2015-18). [4] A scholar as well as an athlete, the National Honor Society member was a recipient of the 1995 Dial Award presented annually to the top male and female high-school athlete/scholar in the United States, earning a 4.2 grade point average on a scale of 4.0. [43] Ralph spent 13 seasons in Storrs, assisting for 12 conference championship and 6 national championship teams. I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our womens basketball program back toan elite level. According to Mike DiMauro of the New London (CT) Day, Vanderbilt has hired UConn assistant Shea Ralph as its next women's basketball coach, replacing Stephanie White who was fired last week after five years and a 46-83 record. In her first press conference after becoming Vanderbilt's new women's basketball head coach, Shea Ralph breaks down key qualities she looks for in a player and what it means to be the new coach of the Lady Commodores. [21] She was named the Big East Player of the Year. She majored in Human and Organizational Development with a minor in Business. say that Ralph will move to Nashville with her husband Tom Garrick, who could join her staff as an assistant. Vanderbilt also recorded its first SEC Tournament victory in six years when it defeated Texas A&M 85-69 on March 2, 2022. Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website, student-athlete mental health and performance, prospective student-athlete questionnaire, NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete, Mr. C and Spirit Squad Appearance Requests. New Vanderbilt womens basketball coach Shea Ralph hired her husband, Tom Garrick, and former Vanderbilt star player Ashley Earley on her staff. Shea Ralph was drafted in the third round (40th pick) by the Utah Starzz[37] (now the Las Vegas Aces) of the WNBA. The West End just got another dose of eastern NCs finest! NASHVILLE, Tenn. One of womens college basketballs most respected and well-known coaches will usher in a new era of success for Vanderbilt as Shea Ralph, a seven-time national champion as a student-athlete and coach, has been named womens basketball head coach. Auriemma read the quote in the paper and "almost [fell] off his chair." UConn women's basketball assistant coach and former player Shea Ralph is taking the next big step in her career, joining the Vanderbilt women's basketball program as their head coach after . Although she dealt with numerous knee injuries during her time at Connecticut, she was a first-team All-American and the Honda Award winner as national player of the year while leading Connecticut to a national championship in 2000. She was named Athlete of the Year by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Ralph has spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant. Ralph will replace Stephanie White, who was fired last week after going 46-83 in five seasons at Vanderbilt. Shea Ralph grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she attended Terry Sanford High School. "I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our womens basketball program back to an elite level.. Ralph rounds out her staff with assistant Kevin DeMille, who spent the past five seasons at George Washington in various roles. Twenty-four hours a day he's going," Ralph said, jokingly. [2] She was previously an assistant coach at UConn from 2008 to 2021. On April 13, 2021, Ralph was named the Vanderbilt Commodores' sixth women's basketball head coach.[2]. Athletic Director Candice Lee confirmed the hire on Twitter Tuesday. in Exercise Physiology. Hes one of the brightest minds in the game, and hes passionate about it. The Commodores were 4-4 in 2020-21. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In April, those contrasts set up Auriemma's pitch for Ralph to seek the Vanderbilt women's basketball head coaching job after 18 years as an assistant, including the past 13 on his UConn staff. Not able to exercise while rehabilitating, she worried about gaining weight and reverted to poor eating habits. Head coach Kevin Ollie was paid just under. High School Reunion Tournament, Vanderbilt admits 15.7% of early decision applicants, record low, Black Cultural Center and student groups host Black History Month programming throughout February, BREAKING: Commodores lose Liam Robbins for the season, Womens Golf: The Commodores secure eighth place at Darius Rucker Intercollegiate, VandyBoys Series Preview: Battling the Big Ten at the Cambria College Classic, Vanderbilt sweeps MTSU in last dual match before SEC play, WEITZEL: The heartbreak may not ever end, but we should still fight it, Lacrosse: After a thrilling fourth quarter, Vanderbilt falls short to Louisville, GUEST EDITORIAL: Vanderbilt administrators, speak up for trans students before its too late, Defending the Crown: Vanderbilt Bowling wins Stallings Invitational, Swimming: Vanderbilt takes on SEC Championships, No. That included a 63-59 victory against No. Coach Ralph brings a wealth of experience from her time as both a student-athlete and coach at one of the nations most storied programs. Where the table does not display a number, it . Ralph was an assistant at Pitt before joining Auriemma's staff in 2008. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File) Buy this photo Published on Tuesday, 13 April 2021 16:45 Written by CARL ADAMEC While serving as a coach at her alma mater, Ralph helped guide the Huskies to 12 Final Four appearances and six national championships, including a record four consecutive titles from 2013-16. On Sunday, the culprit was a rebounding deficit of 19 and taking just . #AnchorDown https://t.co/WyVwfH9iP2. Garrick was most recently the head coach of UMass Lowells womens basketball program. Matt Langone of The Lowell Sun in Massachusetts is reporting that Ralph will hire Garrick as an assistant coach with the Commodores. Ralph, who graduated from Connecticut in 2001, was captain of the Huskies' 2000 national championship team and was named MVP of that Final Four. Shes been recruiting at that level for a long, long time now.. Nine starters transferred out of the program during Whites tenure, including three just last month. The transition to a school without the winning tradition of UConn was difficult. Ralph was the presumed successor to Auriemma once he retires but now will get the chance to lead her own program. Shea Ralph: Head Coach: Tom Garrick: Associate Head Coach: Ashley Earley: Assistant Coach Recruiting Coordinator: Kevin DeMille . "I understand as a new head coach I need to make the right choice. Currently a member of the Vanderbilt coaching staff, Garrick served as head coach of the UMass-Lowell womens basketball program from 2018-21 and previously served as a Vanderbilt assistant from 2009-15. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7. Commodores name former UConn assistant the sixth head coach in program history. Shea Ralph poised to lead the Commodores. With her help, the Huskies made 12 Final Fours and won six national championships. The hiring of Coach Ralph ushers in a new era for Vanderbilt womens basketball, Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. During her four years she wore number 33, worn previously by Jamelle Elliott, current UConn sports announcer Meghan Pattyson Culmo and subsequently by Barbara Turner. Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program. This content is only available to USA TODAY subscribers. [19] In the Big East tournament, her play earned her the Most Outstanding Performer award. As an All-American guard and later as an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma at Connecticut, she was part of 12 Final Four appearances. "I did hire him as a full-time caretaker with my daughter right now. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program, which hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014. Cambridge recorded the programs first postseason triple-double during the SEC Tournament, while she and Moore contributed to a program-record 17 3-pointers against Alabama State on Dec. 28, 2021. The men's basketball team did not have an associate head coach that year. This content is only available to USA TODAY subscribers. Were going to miss her tremendously she brought passion and energy to everything she did in Storrs. More AP womens college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball. [18], Shea had her best scoring year as a sophomore, with 16.7 points per game. In 2000 Ralph captained the team to the national championship and at the Final Four, was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Garrick became the head coach at UMass Lowell in 2018 and has also served in assistant roles at Boston College and Rhode Island. The Commodores reached the third round of the Womens National Invitation Tournament, their longest postseason run since 2013. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. As an All-American guard and later as an assistant coach under Hall of Fame coach Geno Auriemma at Connecticut, she was part of 12 Final Four appearances. She was the most outstanding player of the 2000 NCAA tournament, when the Huskies won their . During the four years she played full or partial seasons, UConn had a record of 13010. Womens basketball is slated to get its own dedicated practice court along with improvements to the locker room and offices. TheUtah Starzz selected Ralph in the third round with the 40th pick of the WBNA Draft in 2001,but she never played in a regular season game. Vanderbilt announced Friday that Ralph has hired her three assistant coaches: former UMass Lowell head coach Tom Garrick, former Penn State assistant Ashley Earley and former George Washington. Ralph's mother, Marsha (Mann) Lake, was an All-American basketball player for the University of North Carolina. Schumacher had 24 points to help the US team beat Japan 8380. Ralph was an instrumental figure in recruiting and player development with the Huskies. [40] Tensions mounted, and after strong words to some of the players, one left, leaving the team short-handed for a scrimmage. I'm not gonna rush through this. "That's what he said. Lets give a big Commodore Welcome to Shea Ralph-Garrick and family! Vanderbilt men's coach Jerry Stackhouse wrote on Twitter of the coach who grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Wright, Commodores stun Kentucky to keep NCAA hopes alive, Chancellor Diermeier calls ChatGPT-crafted response to MSU shooting unfortunate, discusses AI in the classroom, Debrief with Diermeier: Campus expansions, ChatGPT, local politics and more, PODCAST: Does Vanderbilt have a path to NCAA tournament? She knows what winning looks like, and she has the background and experienceas both a player and a coachto develop our student-athletes into champions.. And he previously served as Vanderbilt associate head coach under Melanie Balcomb from 2009-15, reaching the NCAA Tournaments five times. However, he did, and Ralph became an assistant at UConn in 2008. The head coach of Tennessee, Pat Summitt, was good friends with Marsha, so many felt one of those two schools would have the inside track. [2] She was previously an assistant coach at UConn from 2008 to 2021. Nevertheless, Ralph's overall tournament production earned her a position on the all-tournament team. It began with an offhand comment by a teammate, telling her she looked a "little thick". You can reach them at rachael.m.perrotta@vanderbilt.edu and chloe.a.postlewaite@vanderbilt.edu. [12] Another premier program, the University of Tennessee, was also very interested in Ralph. Coach. He played at the highest level, and hes coached for decades.. "Shea has had a huge impact on the UConn women's basketball program, as both a player and a coach. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ralph said that Garrick's prior experience at Vanderbilt played a role in her comfort with taking the job, as he advocated for the program and its potential. He called her to say, "Geez, Shea. They then beat South Korea easily and faced Japan in the third game. Original reporting that provides diverse perspectives on news and issues of today. Ralph cited late-game fatigue as a factor in the large scoring margin. Ralph was drafted by the WNBA Utah Starzz, but recurring knee problems prevented her from embarking on a professional career. The comment sections are moderated by our Editor-in-Chief, Rachael Perrotta, and our Social Media Director, Chloe Postlewaite. We talked about people before; it starts and endswith people for me. Original reporting that provides diverse perspectives on news and issues of today. Ralph has spent the last 13 seasons as an assistant coach with the Huskies. A seven-time national champion as a student-athlete or coach, Ralph arrived at Vanderbilt after spending the previous 13 seasons as an assistant coach alongside Geno Auriemma at the University of Connecticut. Earleys other stops as an assistant were at Penn State (2019-21), Northern Kentucky (2017-19), Virginia (2012-13), Marquette (2010-12), Rhode Island (2009-10), Tennessee Tech (2007-09) and Alabama (2006-07). Fifteen years later, they are about to conclude their first season coaching alongside each other at Vanderbilt. Season ticket deposits are now available for Ralphs inaugural season as head coach. One day at a post-game dinner he placed a hundred-dollar bill next to a plate of mozzarella sticks and told her the money was hers if she would just eat the mozzarella. The North Carolina program was one of the better programs in the country. But we know shes going to do amazing things at Vanderbilt and we wish her the best.. UMass Lowell improved in record each year under his watch the River Hawks went 7-22 in 2018-19, 16-15 in 2019-20 and 12-9 last season with a shortened schedule due to COVID-19. "I've learned how to take losing." The final game was against Malaysia, but it wasn't close, with the US winning 7924, to secure a 40 record for the competition and the gold medal. Lee, who had the interim tag taken off last May as athletic director, played basketball for Vanderbilt from 1998-2002, when the Commodores made back-to-back Elite Eights. News. Ralph finished her college career with 1,678 points to rank eighth in school history. Report: Shea Ralph hiring husband, former Vanderbilt assistant Tom Garrick By Robbie Weinstein Apr 14, 2021 0 New Vanderbilt coach Shea Ralph brings a unique connection to West End her. Garrick was most recently the head coach of UMass Lowells womens basketball program. Ralph was the team's leading scorer, averaging twelve points per game.[36]. She also was an All-American and the 2000 Big East Player of the Year. Athletic director Candice Lee announced the hiring Tuesday morning, April 13, 2021, a week after firing Stephanie White. Despite having to deal with five ACL injuries during her playing career, Ralph was a first-team All-American and the Honda Award winner as national player of the year while leading UConn to a national championship in 2000. Ralph has been an assistant with the Huskies since 2008, and she helped lead UConn to 13 consecutive Final Fours and six NCAA championships. Roster. She also ranks among the programs all-time top 10 in career assists (456), steals (252) and field goal percentage (57.9). (Top photo of Shea Ralph: Courtesy of Vanderbilt University) Get all-access to exclusive stories. In all, Ralph worked with 21 WNBA draft picks at UConn, including nine top-five picks and three No. With many of Vanderbilt's top players having departed the program via transfer in recent months, new coach Shea Ralph has a long road to rebuild the Commodores' talent base. The US built a ten-point lead, but Japan cut it back to three with under a minute to go. She knows what winning looks like, and she has the background and experience, as both a player and a coach, to develop our student-athletes into champions.. The Huskies went to the NCAA tournament all four years, making the Sweet Sixteen each time, and the Final Four in her last two seasons. She knows what winning looks like, and she has the background and experienceas both a player and a coachto develop our student-athletes into champions.. She was also an assistant under Balcomb from 2013-16 and helped recruit multiple top-20 classes. Ralph took a major . Vanderbilt has hired Shea Ralph away from UConn to help revive the Commodores' struggling women's basketball program, which hasn't reached the NCAA Tournament since 2014. The prospect of not playing basketball persuaded her to eat.