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COACHING STAFF

Agnus BERENATO HEAD COACH 2ND SEASON AT PITTSBURGH 20TH SEASON OVERALL OVERALL RECORD: 289-284 ALMA MATER: Mount St. Mary’s, 1980 HOMETOWN: Gloucester City, NJ

On May 1, 2003, a new era began at the University witnessed at Georgia Tech. In her first season at a lot to learn from each other. However, I think of Pittsburgh as Agnus Berenato was named the Pittsburgh, she inherited a team with only one everyone grew from the beginning of the year to head women’s basketball coach after serving as the starter returning and no one that averaged more the end of year. We made great strides and we head coach at Georgia Tech the prior 15 seasons. than six points per game the previous year. are anxious to get back on the court in the fall.” Berenato’s quest to bring the Panthers to “My first year was a learning process,” Berenato Guiding the Yellow Jackets to the postseason in the elite is somewhat different than what she said. “Both the players and the coaching staff had each of her final four years, including the 2003 NCAA Tournament, Berenato owned a 223-209 (.516) record at Georgia Tech. She mentored the team to its first postseason championship by capturing the 1992 National Women’s Invitational Tournament, compiling a 20-13 overall record. Upon Berenato’s hiring, University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said, “We believe the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball program has unlimited potential, and in Agnus Berenato we have found the perfect person to make that potential a reality. Anyone who meets Agnus for the first time cannot help but be impressed with both her knowledge and enthusiasm. Certainly with well over 200 career victories, her ability as a coach is obvious. Just as exciting, Agnus has demonstrated a record of commitment to academics and the complete development of her student-athletes. It will be exciting to watch our program grow, on and off the court, under her leadership.” Her last season at Georgia Tech, the team finished 20-11 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets also upset No. 22 Georgia, 65-61, en route to starting the 2002- 03 season with an 11-1 record. Berenato’s squad made it to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before falling to Duke, eventual champion and Final Four participant. The Yellow Jackets also recorded a school-record 10-game winning streak.

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“AGNUS STANDS FOR ALL THE RIGHT THINGS. SHE IS A FAMILY-ORIENTED PERSON WHO WORKS VERY HARD AT HER JOB. SHE DOES THINGS THE RIGHT WAY AND IS WELL RESPECTED BY BOTH HER PEERS AND HER PLAYERS. AGNUS IS A FIERCE COMPETITOR WHO IS ALSO A TECHNICIAN ON THE FLOOR IN GAME SITUATIONS.”

JIM DAVIS Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Clemson University

BACKGROUND ON BERENATO

FULL NAME: Agnus McGlade Berenato BIRTHDATE: December 9, 1956 HUSBAND: Jack Berenato CHILDREN: Theresa Marie (21), Andrew (20), Joey (15), Clare (13), Christina (10) EDUCATION: Mount St. Mary’s, 1980 HIGH SCHOOL COACHING EXPERIENCE: Holy Cross High School (1 year, 1981), Head Coach COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE: Rider (4 years, 1982-85), Head Coach Georgia Tech (2 years, 1987-88), Assistant Coach Georgia Tech (15 years, 1989-2003), Head Coach Pittsburgh (Second year, 2003-Present), Head Coach HONORS: Two-time State of Georgia Division I Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-off Club (1992, 2003) Honored as a member of Marquis Who’s Who in 2002-03 and 2003-04 Honored as a member of Strathmore Who’s Who in 2002-03 Inducted into the Rider University Hall of Fame (2002) GAHPERD College Coach of the Year (2000) National Girls & Women in Sports Day College Coach of the Year (2000) Recipient of an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Mount St. Mary’s (1995) Recipient of the “Distinguished Alumni” award from the Mount St. Mary’s National Alumni Association WBCA Head Coach of the All-Star team at the 2003 Final Four in Atlanta Recipient of the “Native Son” award, presented annually by the Philadelphia Sports Writers’ Association

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COACHING STAFF

HEAD COACH AGNUS BERENATO

“AGNUS IS SUCH A WONDERFUL AND DEDICATED PERSON. I COACHED HER AT MOUNT ST. MARY’S AND I REALIZED THEN HOW MUCH KNOWLEDGE SHE HAS OF THE GAME OF BASKETBALL AND WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED. SHE IS A HARD WORKER AND IT’S WONDERFUL FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH TO HAVE HER AS ITS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH.”

FRED CARTER ESPN Basketball Analyst

Coach Berenato joined the voice of the Panthers, Bill Hillgrove, during one of the men’s basketball broadcasts.

BERENATO YEAR-BY-YEAR

SEASON SCHOOL RECORD 1981-82 ...... Rider ...... 26-7 1982-83 ...... Rider ...... 14-14 1983-84 ...... Rider ...... 11-15 1984-85 ...... Rider ...... 9-19 1988-89 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 14-14 1989-90 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 13-17 1990-91 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 15-13 1991-92 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 20-13 1992-93 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 16-11 1993-94 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 12-15 1994-95 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 14-16 1995-96 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 14-13 1996-97 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 15-12 1997-98 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 11-17 1998-99 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 13-14 1999-00 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 17-14 2000-01 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 14-15 2001-02 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 15-14 2002-03 ...... Georgia Tech ...... 20-11 2003-04 ...... Pittsburgh ...... 6-20

TOTALS 289-284

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COACHING STAFF

In five of her last seven seasons at Georgia Before arriving at Georgia Tech, Berenato spent Network, Atlanta Women in Sports and the Tech, Berenato led the Yellow Jackets to victories four years as the head women’s basketball coach Naismith Hall of Fame. over top-15 opponents. In 1997, Georgia Tech at Rider University, compiling a 60-55 record. In She also received the Jackie Joyner-Kersee knocked off No. 7 NC State and eighth-ranked her first season at Rider, Berenato guided the Broncs Volunteer Award for exemplary volunteerism Virginia. The following year, the Yellow Jackets to their best record in school history with a 26-7 from the Jesse Draper Boys’ and Girls’ Club of again upset Virginia, which was ranked ninth. In mark . Following that year, she was named New Atlanta last year. Additionally, she was selected 1999, her squad defeated seventh-ranked North Jersey Coaches Association (NJCA) Coach of the by the Institute of International Sports as one of Carolina and in 2000, they beat No. 12 North Year for her efforts while Rider was named its its Sports Ethics Fellows in 1996. Carolina and twice upset NC State (ranked 11th Team of the Year. A native of Gloucester City, N.J., Berenato and and 14th). The following season was highlighted While at Rider, Berenato was also the women’s her husband Jack have five children: Theresa by wins over nationally ranked Virginia once again. volleyball coach for four years, posting a 66-51 Marie (21), Andrew (20), Joey (15), Clare (13) A two-time recipient of the Women’s NCAA record, including a school-record 25-12 mark in and Christina (10). Division I Coach of the Year award in the state of 1983. She was inducted into the Rider Hall of Georgia by the Atlanta Tip-off Club, Berenato is a Fame in February, 2002. recognized recruiter as well as a successful coach. A 1980 graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College in Her 2002 recruiting class was ranked among the Emmitsburg, Md., Berenato earned her bachelor’s top 15 in the nation by such publications as the degree in sociology and was a three-year starter All-Star Girls Report. Additionally, Athlon magazine on the basketball team. Playing for former NBA ranked her 2001 class 13th nationally. star and current ESPN analyst Fred Carter, she Berenato coached 11 All-ACC honorees, including was a two-time captain for the Mountaineers. Sonja Mallory, who earned first-team accolades in Berenato has served on numerous committees, 2002-03. Mallory was selected in the WNBA Draft, including the East Regional Championship chosen 24th overall by the New York Liberty. Committee and the Kodak All-American Selection Before taking over as head coach, Berenato Committee for the Women’s Basketball Coaches served two years as an assistant coach at Georgia Association (WBCA). While at Georgia Tech, she Tech (1986-87). She was responsible for recruiting was a member of the Atlanta Women’s Network, and coaching Tech’s frontcourt players. Inc., the WBCA, the Georgia Women’s Intersport

“AGNUS WILL BE A WONDERFUL ROLE MODEL FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. IT IS A NEW AND EXCITING TIME FOR BOTH THE WOMEN’S AND MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAMS IN PITTSBURGH AND SHE WILL FIT RIGHT IN. IT IS AMAZING HOW SHE CAN BALANCE HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY WITH FIVE CHILDREN ALONG WITH THE FAMILY OF STUDENT-ATHLETES. SHE BALANCES IT LIKE NO OTHER AND SHE WILL BE GREAT FOR PITTSBURGH.”

DEBBIE ANTONELLI National Women’s Basketball Analyst

The Berenato Family (from left to right): Andrew, Joey, Theresa Marie, Christina, husband Jack, Clare and Agnus.

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COACHING STAFF

Marynell MEADORS ASSISTANT COACH 2ND SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Middle Tennessee State, 1965 HOMETOWN: Nashville, TN

BACKGROUND ON MEADORS

FULL NAME: Marynell Meadors BIRTHDATE: August 27, 1943 EDUCATION: B.S. — Health, physical education and recreation, Middle Tennessee State (1965) M.S. — Health, physical education and recreation, Middle Tennessee State (1967) PROFESSIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE: Miami Sol — WNBA, Director of Player Personnel/ Advanced Scouting (1999-2003) Charlotte Sting — WNBA, Head Coach/ General Manager (1997-99) COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE: Pittsburgh (2003-Present), Assistant Coach Florida State (1986-96), Head Coach Tennessee Tech (1966-86), Head Coach HONORS: With over 30 years of coaching experience, program on the right track and I know that we Kellogg Coach of the Year Marynell Meadors, entering her second season are going to be able to accomplish that. Also, it Converse Coach of the Year at Pittsburgh, works primarily with the Panthers’ gave me a chance to work with a special friend Two-time Ohio Valley Conference Coach of guards and assists in recruiting, scheduling, and an enthusiastic coach.” the Year (1981, 1983) Two-time Metro Conference Coach of the scouting, academics and community involvement. Following Tennessee Tech, Meadors was the Year (1990, 1991) She began her career at Tennessee Tech and head coach at Florida State for 10 years and then 18 20-plus winning seasons coached there for 20 seasons, where she won six became the head coach and general manager of USA Basketball Head Coach (1989, 1991) consecutive Tennessee state championships, four the WNBA’s Charlotte Sting in 1997. She was also Inducted into the Tennessee Tech and Ohio Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championships and the director of player and staff personnel with Valley Conference Halls of Fame two Metro Conference championships. Also serving Charlotte and led the team to the playoffs in each as an assistant athletic director, Meadors was twice of her three seasons. She drafted and coached the named OVC Coach of the Year as well as Metro 1998 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Tracy Reid, and She earned the MTSU Distinguished Alumni Award Conference Coach of the Year, Kellogg Coach of the also coached Andrea Stinson, the runner-up for and was also inducted into both the Tennessee Year and Converse Coach of the Year. Meadors won the league’s MVP award. She then became the Tech Sports Hall of Fame and the Ohio Valley 20-plus games 18 times in 20 years for the Golden director of scouting for the Miami Sol in 1999, Conference Hall of Fame. Additionally, she was Eaglettes and became the first major women’s where she was responsible for advanced scouting the head coach of the USA Gold Medalist squad collegiate coach to win 350 games at one institution. of all opponents as well as the player evaluations at the USA Basketball Olympic Festival and an “When Agnus called and presented me with for the WNBA springs drafts. assistant coach of the championship William the offer to coach at the University of Pittsburgh, Meadors earned her bachelor’s and master’s Jones Cup team in 1992. I was thrilled,” Meadors said. “I looked at this as a degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, great opportunity to get the women’s basketball both in health, physical education and recreation.

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COACHING STAFF

Jeff WILLIAMS ASSISTANT COACH 2ND SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Howard, 1987 HOMETOWN: Prince Georges, MD

Jeff Williams, who has 17 years of basketball the nation by a number of recruiting services and BACKGROUND ON WILLIAMS coaching experience, joined Pittsburgh last year media outlets, including a No. 11 ranking by the after serving the previous two years under Agnus All-Star Girls Report. FULL NAME: Jeffrey Bernard Williams Berenato at Georgia Tech. He works with the Williams has coached both men’s and women’s post players and assists in recruiting, preseason college basketball as well as professional basketball. BIRTHDATE: November 2, 1964 and postseason conditioning, scouting and Prior to Georgia Tech, he was the head coach for the WIFE: Williams married the former Tamecia McCoy community involvement. Atlanta Justice where he helped lead the National in August, 2004 “I am excited about the opportunity that I have Women’s Basketball League squad to both the CHILDREN: Daughter, Montana Williams (12) at University of Pittsburgh,” Williams said. “It is regular-season and playoff championships in 2001. EDUCATION: B.A. — Liberal Arts, Howard (1987) an honor to work for such a great institution and Before joining the Justice, Williams served the a great head coach. I know that with Agnus as previous five years as an assistant coach and COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE: our head coach, both the community and fans recruiting coordinator at Howard University in Pittsburgh (2003-Present), Assistant Coach Georgia Tech (2001-03), Assistant Coach will gravitate toward our program.” Washington, D.C. At Howard, Williams helped lead Howard (1995-2000), Assistant Coach/ In 2002-03, Williams helped Georgia Tech to a the team to four league titles and three NCAA Tour- Recruiting Coordinator 20-11 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. nament appearances. His recruiting class during the George Mason (1990-93), Assistant Men’s Coach Additionally, for the second straight year, he helped 1997-98 season was ranked the nation’s 12th best. South Carolina State (1988-89), Assistant Men’s bring in a nationally ranked recruiting class, including A 1987 graduate of Howard with a degree Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Street & Smith’s All-Americans Stephanie Higgs in therapeutic recreation, Williams also was an PROFESSIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE: and Kentrina Wilson. The prior year, the Yellow assistant coach for the men’s teams at George Atlanta Justice — National Women’s Basketball Jackets’ class was ranked among the top 15 in Mason and South Carolina State. League (2001), Head Coach HONORS: Top 15 Recruiting Class — Georgia Tech (2003) Top 10 Recruiting Class — Georgia Tech (2002) No. 12 Recruiting Class — Howard (1998) 2001 NWBL Champions — Atlanta Justice Seven 20-win seasons Five NCAA Tournament appearances

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COACHING STAFF

Shea RALPH ASSISTANT COACH 2ND SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Connecticut, 2001 HOMETOWN: Fayetteville, NC

One of the finest players in recent college women’s Ralph graduated from UConn ranked among the BACKGROUND ON RALPH basketball history, Shea Ralph enters her second top 10 leaders in several categories, including season with Pittsburgh. Ralph, a former standout at scoring, assists, steals and field-goal percentage. FULL NAME: Shea Sydney Ralph Connecticut, works primarily with the conditioning A captain of the 2000 national championship team, program, coordinates travel plans, assists with Ralph was named the Most Valuable Player of BIRTHDATE: March 12, 1978 individual workouts, works with the guards, the Final Four and was a Naismith Player of the EDUCATION: assists in scouting and works with academics. Year finalist. That same year, she earned first B.A. — Exercise physiology, Connecticut (2001) “Shea really knows what it takes to win because team Kodak and Associated Press All-America COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE: she has been at the top,” Berenato said. “She in addition to being named the Big East Player Pittsburgh (2003-Present), Assistant Coach wants to go into the trenches with us and make of the Year. She also was the Sports Illustrated PROFESSIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE: our program better. Shea is young, enthusiastic for Women Player of the Year and the recipient Springfield Spirit — National Women’s and has the credentials to make a major impact of the Honda Award, given to the top woman Basketball League (2003), Assistant Coach on our coaching staff. Her leadership is second collegiate athlete in each of 12 sports. HONORS: to none and she will be an asset both on and off Ralph was a member of the 2000 U.S. Jones National High School Player of the Year the court. She has the motivation to excel and I Cup Gold Medal team and paced the squad in Big East Rookie of the Year (1997) think both the student-athletes we have on the scoring (12.0 ppg) and steals (1.75 spg). She Big East Player of the Year (2000) team and future recruits will benefit greatly from was awarded Big East Championship Most Kodak All-American (2000) Final Four MVP (2000) her joining the staff.” Outstanding Player honors as UConn won the Captain, 2000 National Championship team

1999 conference tournament. She also was the Big East Rookie of the Year, United States Basketball Writer’s Association (USBWA) Freshman of the Year, Sporting News National Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year by Dick Vitale College Basketball in 1996-97. A 2001 graduate of Connecticut with a degree in exercise physiology, Ralph was drafted that summer by the WNBA’s but was unable to compete because of a knee injury. She later went on to make the NWBL’s Springfield Spirit team before falling victim to injury again. Ralph then became an assistant coach for the Spirit until this past spring. Ralph has also been a motivational speaker for the past three years and has worked numerous basketball camps for both collegiate and professional teams.

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SUPPORT STAFF

Karen Carol COPELAND SPRAGUE

SENIOR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR 2ND SEASON AT PITTSBURGH 31ST SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Campbell, 1990 ALMA MATER: Slippery Rock, 1971 HOMETOWN: Apex, NC HOMETOWN: Penn Hills, PA

Karen Copeland, in her second year as the director of women’s basketball Carol Sprague has been at the forefront of many initiatives and positive operations, came to Pittsburgh after serving for three years for Agnus Berenato developments during her University of Pittsburgh career which spans three at Georgia Tech. She handles marketing, managing and promotions for Coach decades of service. Berenato’s basketball camps, Berenato’s Bunch and special events in the As Senior Associate Athletics Director, Sprague is responsible for capital community for the Panthers. project management and facilities and event operations management and “I feel it’s an honor that Coach Berenato asked me to join her coaching serves as sport administrator for women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics staff at the University of Pittsburgh,” Copeland said. “Pittsburgh made a great and wrestling. Sprague worked as the athletic department’s project manager hire with Coach Berenato and I am excited that I can continue to work with during the planning and construction of the Petersen Events Center. Her respon- her. We have a great working relationship and understanding of one another.” sibilities included researching numerous aspects of the arena to determine A 1990 graduate of Campbell University, Copeland joined the Yellow Jackets everything from large screen video board capabilities and manufactures to the after serving as a graduate assistant at her alma mater the previous two location of telephone outlets. She also provided architects and contractors years. She was responsible for coordinating the scouting and film exchange with information about athletic and spectator functionality of many areas of program as well as assisting with the academic supervision of the team. the building. Sprague was instrumental in the planning and construction of Copeland helped the Lady Camels to the Trans America Athletic Conference new locker rooms, training rooms and an equipment complex in Fitzgerald championship and their first berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2000. Field House. She also oversaw the department’s move from Pitt Stadium Copeland, who also earned her master’s degree from Campbell in 2000, and back to the Petersen Events Center. In 2004, Sprague completed five years of service on the prestigious NCAA was a two-year member of the Lady Camel’s women’s basketball team from Women’s Basketball Committee. The committee is responsible for the selection of 1987-89, playing in 47 career games. As a senior, she helped the team to at-large teams in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship field. the 1989 Big South Conference Championship crown and was the recipient Behind the scenes, the committee completes responsibilities for tournament of the Coaches Award. site selection, tournament format, and marketing and television relationships. A native of Apex, N.C., Copeland spent four years at Chapel Hill’s Carolina In June, Sprague was elected to serve on the Executive Board of the Meadows, one of the top five retirement communities in the country. She National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA). As the professional joined the staff as the Assistant Activities Director and was later promoted to association for collegiate athletic administrators, NACDA develops educational Director of Activities. The previous three years Copeland was a 10th-grade programming and sponsors an annual convention that allows administrators in teacher at Cary High School, where she coached the junior varsity volleyball marketing, business and sports to interact with vendors and other professionals. and basketball teams. She has also been a member of the NCAA Management Council, the NCAA Council, the NCAA Administrative Committee, the NCAA Administrative Review Committee, and the NCAA Playing and Practice Sessions Committee. She has extensive experience on various Big East Conference administrative and sports committees. Sprague began her career at Pittsburgh in 1974 as an assistant swimming coach. Since that time she has held a variety of positions including coordinator of student affairs for student athletes, assistant athletics director for women’s sports and associate athletics director for non-revenue sports. A graduate of Slippery Rock University, Sprague earned her bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 1971 and a Master of Science degree in 1974. A member of the Rockets’ swimming team, she was a national championship qualifier. Sprague additionally had a 22-year career with the Pittsburgh Debs women’s open division softball team. As a player, Sprague was a member of two United States Slo-Pitch Softball Association World Championship teams, and as a coach, she led the Debs to five national top-20 finishes. She was inducted into the Penn Hills Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 and was the 1993 recipient of the Women in Sports Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce. In May 1999, Sprague was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

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Tim Jill BELTZ CONLEY

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH ATHLETIC TRAINER 5TH SEASON AT PITTSBURGH 5TH SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Northern Colorado, 1995 ALMA MATER: Eastern Kentucky, 1995 HOMETOWN: Denver, CO HOMETOWN: Attica, NY

Tim Beltz is in his third season as the strength and conditioning coach for the Jill Conley is in her fifth season as the head athletic trainer for the Pittsburgh Pittsburgh women’s basketball team. Beltz, who is in his fifth year of service women’s basketball team. Conley also handles the athletic training duties with the Panthers overall, also serves as the strength coach for men’s for the men’s and women’s cross country and track and field teams. basketball, baseball and softball teams. Conley joined Pittsburgh in the summer of 2000 after serving the previous Originally from Denver, Colo., Beltz attended Northern Colorado where he three years at Marshall, including one year as the associate athletic trainer received his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology in 1995. Upon graduation, for women and Olympic sports. Beltz began working as an operations manager at the Amelia Wellness Center Prior to her tenure at Marshall, Conley was a clinical athletic trainer at in Amelia Island, Fla. While there, he additionally served as a consultant for Joyner SportsMedicine in Richmond, Ky. competitive triathletes for two years. An instructor within Pittsburgh’s athletic training program, Conley previously Beltz returned to school to earn his master’s degree, also in exercise served as an instructor at Marshall and as a graduate assistant instructor physiology, from Akron in 1998. During his two-year stint, he began competing at Eastern Kentucky University. as an Olympic weightlifter. Conley received her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Kentucky in 1995 and Beltz was also employed at the Fast Program in Boca Raton, Fla., where went on to earn her master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis he worked with numerous NFL, Major League Baseball and NBA athletes. on sport administration from the university in 1996. Most notably, he prepared Ron Artest (former St. John’s standout and NBA Jill and her husband Kevin reside in Allison Park. first-round pick) prior to the 1999 draft. Beltz also assisted the Toronto Raptors’ strength coach develop weight training programs for the team.

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Burt Lindsay LAUTEN SHADE

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS DIRECTOR VIDEO COORDINATOR 4TH SEASON AT PITTSBURGH 1ST SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: Westminster, 1999 ALMA MATER: Davidson, 2004 HOMETOWN: Ellwood City, PA HOMETOWN: Atlanta, GA

Burt Lauten is in his fourth year as assistant media relations director for the Lindsay Shade enters her first year with the Panthers’ women’s basketball Pittsburgh Athletic Department and the women’s basketball team. staff as video coordinator. Lauten aids in the promotion of the Panthers’ 19 intercollegiate sports with an Shade is a 2004 graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, where she emphasis on football, women’s basketball, baseball and the men’s and women’s earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. A former walk-on for Davidson’s track and field and cross country teams. He assisted in the promotion of Heisman women’s basketball team, Shade earned a scholarship as a junior and led Trophy runner-up and Walter Camp Player of the Year, Larry Fitzgerald, in the Southern Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio. Ultimately, as a senior 2003, as well as the Panthers’ All-America baseball player, P.J. Hiser. she earned the starting nod as the point guard. Prior to Pittsburgh, Lauten served two years at Miami (OH) University. He Throughout her career at Davidson, Shade represented Davidson’s women’s joined the RedHawks in 1999 as a media relations intern and was promoted basketball team on the Student Athletic Committee and acted as Commissioner to assistant director a year later. At Miami, he helped publicize All-America of the League for Davidson College Girls’ Summer Basketball Camps. tailback Travis Prentice and also worked with the RedHawks’ women’s Shade also served as Head Coach for AAU 13-and-under girls’ team at the basketball, baseball and other Olympic sports teams. Marist School from 1998-2003. She volunteered as a tutor for first grade students Lauten also served as the primary media contact for Miami’s NCAA with reading and math difficulties from 2001-2003. She has also volunteered Tournament-qualifying baseball team which played in the Regionals in Tempe, as a leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes-Girls Sports Camp. Ariz., in 2000, after capturing the Mid-American Conference Tournament crown. A 1999 graduate of Westminster College, Lauten earned his bachelor’s degree in public relations and was a sports information intern for the Titans. He also was a sports correspondent for the New Castle News. A native of Ellwood City, Lauten graduated from Riverside High in 1995. Jennifer TUSCANO

ACADEMIC COORDINATOR Dan 1ST SEASON AT PITTSBURGH ALMA MATER: TRBOVICH Pittsburgh at Johnstown,1999 HOMETOWN: Meyersdale, PA

EQUIPMENT MANAGER Jennifer Tuscano joins the University of Pittsburgh Women’s Basketball staff 7TH SEASON AT PITTSBURGH as academic coordinator. ALMA MATER: Slippery Rock, 1996 Tuscano joins the Panthers after serving as the Director of Athletics at HOMETOWN: West Mifflin, PA Meyersdale Area School District. She was responsible for scheduling all athletics events, as well as directing and supervising after school tutoring programs Dan Trbovich is in his seventh season as equipment manager for the Panthers for student-athletes. She also served as Head Coach of the Meyersdale Area women’s basketball program. Trbovich is responsible for the day-to-day Junior High Girl’s Basketball team from 1997-2004. She was also a member equipment operations of both the women’s and men’s basketball teams, as of the Meyersdale Athletic Boosters, the PIAA District 5 Committee and the well as several Olympic sports. His duties include distributing practice gear, Pennsylvania State Education Association. game uniforms and equipment for student-athletes and the coaching staffs. Tuscano received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Trbovich began his association with the University of Pittsburgh as an Johnstown in 1999, where she spent four years on the women’s basketball intern in the athletic development office in 1998 before moving to the ticket team. She is currently working towards her masters degree in Sports office. A West Mifflin, Pa., native, Trbovich received his degree in sports Management at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. management from Slippery Rock University in 1996. Trbovich was married to the former Alison Slavishak in May, 2004. The couple resides in Mount Lebanon. BANDING TOGETHER 31 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:55 PM Page 32

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JOHN ABRAMS DR. SUSAN MAUREEN JOE ARNONE PAUL BARTO E.J. BORGHETTI Director of Facilities and ALBRECHT ANDERSON Director of Ticket Operations PantherVision Producer Assistant Athletic Director/ Operations NCAA Faculty Representative Assistant Athletic Director/ Media Relations Development

KATHLEEN KIRK BRUCE LORI BURENS RICH COLE JIM EARLE LIONEL EDMONDS BRINKLEY Assistant Athletic Director/ Assistant Director for Director of Equipment Services Associate Athletic Director/ Student Manager Group Sales Coordinator Olympic Sports Licensing and Game Marketing and Merchandising Presentation

CHRIS FERRIS SHANA GREEN FELISHA HAMIEL REX HOUGH JASON LENER LAURA PIPER Director of Corporate Assistant Ticket Manager Women’s Basketball Secretary Assistant Athletic Director/ Assistant Athletic Director/ Student Manager Relations/PantherVision Sponsorship, Television Business, Finance and & Radio Personnel

NOT PICTURED

RYAN MCCLEASTER Facilities and Operations Assistant

TYE CHAPMAN Assistant Director of Marketing

MIKE PRATAPAS DONNA DAN SATTER Senior Associate Athletic DEMARINO SANFT Assistant for Corporate Director Associate Athletic Director/ and Radio Sales Administration, Student Life and Compliance

32 2004-05 PITTSBURGH PANTHERS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL...BANDING TOGETHER