Jennifer Rizzotti (second from right) looks to continue her success. Brian Izzo | The Informer
After another successful campaign this past winter leading the women’s basketball team to a final record of 21-12 and going back to the America East championship, Jen Rizzotti will be looking to continue her success for a few more years.
Rizzotti just recently signed a contract extension through the 2017-2018 season, after she, University President Walter Harrison and Athletic Director Pat Meiser all agreed to the deal.
“Jen Rizzotti has had a brilliant career as coach of the Hartford Hawks women’s basketball team and has established herself as one of the premier coaches in the country at any level of the game,” said Harrison. “I am delighted that she has agreed to extend her contract with us, and I look forward to watching her lead our team far into the future.”
Rizzotti first signed with Hartford in September of 1999 and has since led the Hawks to six NCAA Tournament appearances and the program’s first win in the NCAA Tournament, when the team beat Temple in 2005-2006 with a score of 64-58.
Rizzotti also has accumulated an overall school-record of 276 wins, which is currently the most among current and former America East coaches.
Rizzotti has won the America East Coach of the Year three times, has given the school five America East Conference Championships and her 23 league tournament victories are the most in the history of the conference.
This June, Rizzotti will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, where she will be one of six others entering as the class of 2013. Rizzotti, who is being inducted as a player, joins other big time name Division One head coaches, Gary Blair, who currently coaches at Texas A&M, and Jim Foster, who coached at Ohio State.
Rizzotti is also the third member of the Connecticut Huskies family to be inducted, joining Rebecca Lobo and head coach Geno Auriemma.
Rizzotti has also shown quality coaching, not just in college. She has a record of 13-1 as a USA Basketball head coach, where she lead the U.S. to Gold Medals at the 2011 U-19 FIBA Championships and the 2010 U-18 FIBA Americans.
“I’m thrilled to further extend my contract with the University of Hartford under the tremendous leadership of President Walter Harrison and Director of Athletics Pat Meiser,” said Rizzotti “The opportunity to continue to work with these phenomenal young women and build on our already rich tradition at this university is one I’ll continue to cherish each day, year, and decade I remain with the program.”
Even though Rizzotti is losing four senior’s this year, there is still a young team who has provided a lot of talent and promise for the future of Hartford women’s basketball.