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3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:52 PM Page 21 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:53 PM Page 22 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. 22 I 2004-05 PITTSBURGH PANTHERS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL...BANDING TOGETHER 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:53 PM Page 23 “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: I Two-time State of Georgia Division I Coach of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-off Club (1992, 2003) I Honored as a member of Marquis Who’s Who in 2002-03 and 2003-04 I Honored as a member of Strathmore Who’s Who in 2002-03 I Inducted into the Rider University Hall of Fame (2002) I GAHPERD College Coach of the Year (2000) I National Girls & Women in Sports Day College Coach of the Year (2000) I Recipient of an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Mount St. Mary’s (1995) I Recipient of the “Distinguished Alumni” award from the Mount St. Mary’s National Alumni Association I WBCA Head Coach of the All-Star team at the 2003 Final Four in Atlanta I Recipient of the “Native Son” award, presented annually by the Philadelphia Sports Writers’ Association 23 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:53 PM Page 24 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 24 I 2004-05 PITTSBURGH PANTHERS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL... 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:53 PM Page 25 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. BANDING TOGETHER I 25 3283_P21_32c1 10/13/04 5:53 PM Page 26 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.