Courtesy Vermont Sports Information
BURLINGTON – University of Pennsylvania assistant coach Chris Day has been hired as the next head coach of the University of Vermont women’s basketball program. Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Robert Corran and incoming Director of Athletics Jeff Schulman announced the hiring of Day on Wednesday afternoon.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Chris, wife Megan, and their children to the University of Vermont and the Catamount Athletics Family,” said Schulman. “Chris brings a broad array of experiences with him to this new role and is committed to leading a program defined by academic and competitive success while providing our student-athletes a first-rate experience on and off the court. We look forward to introducing Chris to the community next Tuesday as we begin a new era of Vermont women’s basketball.”
“It was a real pleasure meeting and getting to know Chris through the search process,” said Corran. “He will bring values, enthusiasm, passion, and experience that fit tightly with the needs of our program, and I know he will have great success as a member of the Catamount family.”
Day has been an assistant coach for the Penn women’s basketball program for the last three seasons (2013-16). He helped guide the Quakers to the 2013-14 and 2015-16 Ivy League Championships, earning NCAA Tournament berths both seasons, and helped lead the program to the 2014-15 WNIT postseason tournament.
“Words cannot describe how thrilled I am to be the head coach of the University of Vermont women’s basketball program,” said Day. “The mixture of elite academics, high character people, and a beautiful area to be a part of is why I love UVM. My family and I are extremely excited to be a part of the Burlington community. I look forward to many years of success on the court and providing our student athletes with the best experience of their lives.”
Day assisted Penn to a 67-21 (.761) overall record in his three seasons, including a remarkable 36-6 (.857) mark in Ivy League. His teams won at least 21 games all three years, and posted a program-record 24 victories this past season. Penn’s scoring defense finished the season ranked ninth nationally in 2014-15 and 14th in 2013-14. Day has recruited and coached nine All-Ivy League selections and a pair of players who were named Ivy Player of the Year.
“I’m excited for Chris that he’s getting this opportunity,” said Penn head coach Mike McLaughlin. “It’s well deserved and he’s put a great deal of time and effort into our program here at Penn. Chris has helped make our program better and it’s an opportunity for him that he’s ready for. I wish him the best and he’s going to do extremely well.”
Day spent one season at Indiana in the Big 10 in 2012-13 and helped the Hoosiers double their conference win total from the previous season. He also signed the nation’s leading high school scorer (45.3 points per game) in 2013. Day served as an assistant at St. Joseph’s in the Atlantic 10 for seven seasons and helped the Hawks register a 128-94 record. St. Joseph’s made six WNIT appearances during his seven-year tenure and collected 22 wins during his final campaign.
The Catamounts’ new head coach is a 1997 graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania. Day and his wife Megan have five children, Christian, Olivia, Morgan, Cassidy and Bryce. He will be formally introduced to the department, athletic supporters, and local media in a press conference next Tuesday (May 17).