Tecumseh grad McCloskey named Urbana women’s basketball coach

Tecumseh High School graduate Andrea McCloskey on Wednesday was named the women’s basketball coach at Urbana University.

McCloskey previously was a highly successful coach at Georgetown College, an NAIA program in Kentucky.

“Urbana University is a great school that is moving in such a positive direction,” McCloskey said in a release. “It is my privilege to be the next head coach for the women’s basketball program.”

Urbana was 6-20 last season and 3-19 in the Mountain East Conference. McCloskey succeeds former Blue Knights women’s basketball standout Haley Ducey. Ducey had been in the position since 2014.

McCloskey began at Georgetown as an assistant in 2006 and became the Tigers’ head coach in 2011. She was the Mid-South Conference coach of the year in her first season as head coach, guiding Georgetown to a 24-10 record and an NAIA final four national tournament appearance. That was part of a run of three straight 20-plus wins by the Tigers.

Prior to that, she was an assistant coach at Rio Grande, where she also played, and began her coaching career at Sinclair Community College in Dayton.

She played four seasons at Rio Grande, serving as captain as a junior and senior.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the MEC and I’m confident that we will be successful in the classroom, on the court, and in the community,” McCloskey said. “I can’t wait to start working with these talented ladies.”

Urbana is expected to return 10 letter winners. Area players on the 2016-17 team were seniors Danie Shafer (Fairmont), Stefanie Davis (Kenton Ridge) and Jazmyn Haley (Bellefontaine), junior Jennifer Alflen (Wayne) and sophomores Weston Minnich (Centerville), Janae Curtis (Thurgood Marshall) and Sylvia Hudson (Sidney).

“She is a great match for the job and an outstanding fit for the university, as well,” Urbana executive director of athletics Larry Cox said. “I fully expect that with the positive momentum building here at Urbana, Andrea will bring even greater prominence to the Blue Knight women’s basketball program.”


ANDREA MCCLOSKEY

What: Urbana University women's basketball coach.

Previously: Georgetown (Ky.) head coach, 2011-17.

College: Rio Grande.

High school: Tecumseh.

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