Tag: Niele Ivey

Natalie Achonwa Named Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award Winner

Indiana Fever forward and former Notre Dame captain Natalie Achonwa has won this year’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award.

Indiana Fever forward and former Notre Dame captain Natalie Achonwa has won this year’s Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. The award, of which Achonwa was announced as the winner Friday, goes to a player who has shown great community leadership. Achonwa continued to show leadership in the statement she released after the announcement:

“It is important for me to optimize the benefits and privileges I receive from being a professional athlete. A big piece of that is using the platform I’m awarded to connect with people, promote a level playing field, and inspire others to make positive change.

Through the ups and downs of my own personal journey, I have found that it is the little things that make the biggest difference. If we all focus on challenging the status quo of our own circles, and build from there, we can tackle the world and keep moving forward.”

On the Fever’s Twitter account, Irish coaches past and present were only too pleased to have the opportunity to congratulate their friend:

Achonowa spoke at Indianapolis Public Schools during March to talk about mental health and ending the stigma. In 2019, she won the WNBA Community Assist Award for raising awareness of similar issues. For her latest award, the WNBA will make a $10,000 donation in her name to the Madame Walker Legacy Center.

 

Notre Dame adds Virginia Tech transfer to continue family tradition

Dara Mabrey is leaving Virginia Tech for Notre Dame, following the path her older sisters set before her. Find out the player ND is getting!

Niele Ivey has done wonders in the recruiting world early in her run as head basketball coach at Notre Dame but we get the feeling she received a decent amount of help from her staff, perhaps from one assistant coach in particular after the Irish gained a transfer guard on Thursday night.

Virginia Tech transfer Dara Mabrey announced she’ll be transferring to Notre Dame on Thursday night.  She follows in the footsteps of her sisters Marina and Michaela who have both previously played at Notre Dame while Michaela is currently a member of Ivey’s coaching staff.

Virginia Tech went a combined 43-21 in Mabrey’s two seasons in which she averaged 11.9 points per game.  The Irish get help in their outside shooting immediately as Mabrey shot 41.2% from beyond the arc in her two seasons in Blacksburg.  Her 80 treys

Notre Dame: Niele Ivey Shares Powerful Thoughts on George Floyd

New women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey issued a strong statement on George Floyd and police brutality in the United States. Worth reading.

Since George Floyd’s tragic passing early last week we’ve seen the nation do things my generation (34 years old) has never seen before, at least not in this amount or for this amount of time.

Coaches have come out and said they want to have communications with their players and students.  As nice as that is there is plenty more to do and many more ways to help start these needed conversations on a grander scale.

That’s where new Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey comes in.  Although only being on the job for a short time, Ivey offered very strong thoughts on the situation and where we stand as a nation in a Twitter post Sunday morning:

“As I stepped into this role as head coach of Notre Dame, I would’ve never imagined it being in the middle of a pandemic and now in the midst of complete civil unrest. There is no playbook for me in these times. There aren’t enough words to fully express how I feel or words to heal the pain of a nation that is emotionally and physically on fire. The events of last week and the murder of George Floyd has been infuriating, painful, and senseless. Another target, another hashtag, and a continued system of oppression that has plagued our country for hundreds of years. Blatant racism, police brutality and murder targeting black and brown people. I am not ok. My heart is heavy. I am not only a coach and a leader but I am a mother. A mother of a young black man. It is a constant fear of mine to have a son that the world views as a threat. I wake up asking God to protect him. When he leaves the house, I am not fully at peace until he is back safe at home. This is no way to live, but this is our reality. I grieve for the mothers and families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Mike Brown, Sandra Bland and the list goes on and on. I weep thinking about how their children’s lives were taken away. We shouldn’t have to live in fear! Their lives mattered and I am tired. Tired of seeing so much injustice and tired of the same things happening over and over again. I pray that I can use my platform to evoke change. Stop killing innocent, unarmed black people. Stop judging people based on the color of their skin and treating them less than human. We need change and change can only happen if we continue to voice these atrocities, demand justice, call in, petition, and use our power to vote. We need to change the laws and unite together to stand up for what’s right. I am not okay and you shouldn’t be either.” – Niele Ivey

By now we’ve all the seen the video and if you’re at all like myself, each time you see even a still image from that moment you become a bit uneasy.  I appreciate that compared to so many other coaches and businesses statements that have been made, this one came packing a lot more of a punch.

What are the reasons for the protests?

So many of these coaches and business that have issued statements that don’t acknowledge the issue at hand that led to such protests.  Ivey attacks that straight on and doesn’t mince words.

It’s a scary time, a strange time but also a time that hopefully ends with a positive result.  The life of George Floyd unfortunately won’t come back, nor will far too many before him.

Hopefully though we use this opportunity as a nation to listen to our brothers and sisters that might not have grown up around us, don’t look like us or don’t share many of the same beliefs of us.  I hope we can ultimately come out of this awful time better as a nation.

With people like Niele Ivey setting an example like she chose to do Sunday morning, my hope for that only grows, but now it’s our duty to listen to what she and countless others have to say so we don’t find ourselves here again in short order.

You can follow Niele Ivey on Twitter @IrishCoachIvey.

Beth Morgan-Cunningham Out as Notre Dame Women’s Hoops Assistant Coach

New Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey will not retain Beth Morgan-Cunningham as assistant coach.

New Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey will not retain Beth Morgan-Cunningham as assistant coach. Morgan-Cunningham was Muffet McGraw’s associate head coach for the past eight seasons. In that time, the Irish have been to five Final Fours, three national title games and the 2018 national championship.

Morgan-Cunningham was one of McGraw’s players from 1993 to 1997, the last year featuring Notre Dame’s first Final Four. She graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,322 points) and was a team captain and All-American twice. That helped her get inducted into the program’s Ring of Honor in 2017. She came to McGraw’s staff after serving as VCU’s head coach for nine seasons, during which she became the winningest coach in that program’s history.

Morgan-Cunningham should land on her feet somewhere. She’s had too much success not to land another coaching job, either head or assistant. But no matter what happens, she’s done Notre Dame proud, and we all should wish her the best in her future endeavors.

 

 

Two Massive Recruits Pick Notre Dame

Niele Ivey hasn’t been on the job for even a week but has already landed commitments from two big-time recruits in the 2021 recruiting class.

You only get one chance to make a first impression and if new Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey’s first 100 hours on the job are any indication, she’s going to be an elite head coach.

After accepting the position and officially taking over for the Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw, Ivey has already landed two elite recruits to the 2021 class.

Not even 48 hours after the announcement of Ivey taking the job Notre Dame landed the second-rated player in the entire 2021 recruiting class, Olivia Miles.

Miles is rated as the top point guard prospect in the nation but wasn’t the only huge recruit to commit to Ivey and Notre Dame.  Just a couple of days later it was fellow five-star prospect Sonia Citron, the reigning Gatorade New York Player of the Year.

The 6-1 guard Citron averaged 23.8 points and 10.6 rebounds per game while leading Scarsdale (Ursuline) to a 24-0 record.

Citron and Miles are both huge gets for Ivey who I’d imagine will have great success at recruiting and developing guards.

Watch: Welcoming Niele Ivey Back to Notre Dame

Let’s not pretend Niele Ivey is going to easily settle into her new role as Notre Dame’s women’s basketball coach.

Let’s not pretend Niele Ivey is going to easily settle into her new role as Notre Dame’s women’s basketball coach. Not only is she facing the tough task of filling the shoes left by the legendary Muffet McGraw as one of her former players and assistant coaches, but she’s inheriting a program coming off its worst season in years and a far cry from what it’s known for. Still, the university is welcoming the St. Louis native back with open arms after a year away from South Bend. And the fact that her predecessor has the utmost confidence in her abilities speaks volumes:

Taylor Jenkins: I’m so excited for …

Taylor Jenkins: I’m so excited for Niele and this wonderful opportunity to return to her alma mater, where she spent so many years as a player and as a coach. In her first year with the Memphis Grizzlies, Niele made a lasting impact on the floor, but even more so off the floor through her relationships with the players, fellow coaches and staff, including the relationship we built coach-to-coach. Niele is going to make a huge impact in the lives of the women who come through the Notre Dame program, both as players and people, because that’s who she is – a difference maker in so many respects.

Niele Ivey Named New Notre Dame’s Replacement for McGraw

Ivey remained an assistant on Muffet McGraw’s staff through the 2018-19 season before spending this past year as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.  Now she’s back at Notre Dame for a third time, this time to replace the legendary McGraw.

Niele Ivey played for Notre Dame in parts of five seasons between 1997 and 2001.  She left the university as a student-athlete in 2001 on the highest of notes as the All-American point guard was a huge part of the Fighting Irish’s squad that won the first national championship in program history.  She then went on to play in the WNBA until 2005 before beginning a coaching career that led her back to Notre Dame in 2007.

Ivey remained an assistant on Muffet McGraw’s staff through the 2018-19 season before spending this past year as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.  Now she’s back at Notre Dame for a third time, this time to replace the legendary McGraw.

Here is Notre Dame’s official release on Ivey’s hiring:

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – There’s no place like home under the Golden Dome. James E. Rohr Notre Dame Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick announced Niele Ivey (‘01) as the fourth head coach in women’s basketball history on Wednesday. 

Ivey was the common link to all nine of the program’s Final Four appearances, two as a player and seven as an assistant coach, logging a combined 17 years on Notre Dame’s campus. Ivey spent the past season honing her craft as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies, before returning to follow in Muffet McGraw’s footsteps.

Ivey will address Irish fans as the new Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach for the first time on Thursday, April 23, at Noon ET as part of a virtual press conference. 

“I am so honored to be able to follow in the legacy that Coach McGraw built here at Notre Dame,” Ivey stated. “My love and appreciation for Coach McGraw is beyond anything I can express. She’s more than a mentor, more than a friend, she’s one of the most influential people in my life. I am full of gratitude for Coach McGraw and what she has done for me.  She was the first to give me an opportunity to play for Notre Dame and coach here as well. I will forever be grateful for her love and support. I would also like to thank Jack Swarbrick and Father Jenkins for having the faith to move this program forward with me. I can never thank you enough for this incredible opportunity.”

The Irish went 386-55 (.875) during Ivey’s time patrolling the sidelines as an assistant. Notre Dame’s recent decade of dominance (2010-19) had Ivey’s handprints all over it – no other program had produced more trips to the national title game (six), and the Irish posted the third-most wins in that span, as well (339). 

That decade also consisted of 14 conference championships (eight regular-season plus six tournament titles split between the BIG EAST and ACC), seven Final Fours and a 2018 national championship. 

“I am thrilled Niele will be the next leader of the Notre Dame basketball program,” Muffet McGraw said. “She’s one of the best young coaches in the game today and her success with the Grizzlies has helped make her even more prepared for her new role.

“What sets Niele apart is her ability to connect with all generations — alums, her current team and future student-athletes. She will be a fantastic role model and a leader in the women’s empowerment movement, and she will represent Notre Dame in a way that will make our fans proud.”

The inaugural recipient of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division I National Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 2016, Ivey has thrived in all aspects of the game, including player development, scouting and recruiting. 

She tutored the likes of All-Americans Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Lindsay Allen and Arike Ogunbowale. Coach McGraw consistently entrusted her with the toughest scouts, earning key victories over squads from UConn, Maryland, Tennessee, Louisville, Baylor, South Carolina and Texas A&M. In addition, Ivey helped Notre Dame attract Top-12 recruiting classes in nine of her last 10 years. 

Over Ivey’s last eight years with the Irish, Notre Dame ranked in the Top 12 in field goal percentage, scoring offense and assists. In her most recent season at Notre Dame, the 2019 Irish took home the statistical championship for top scoring offense in the country, averaging a program record 88.6 points per game.

“Father Jenkins and I have every confidence that Niele Ivey is the perfect person to build upon the legacy established by Coach McGraw,” Swarbrick stated. “As a player and as a coach, Niele helped Notre Dame women’s basketball perform at a championship level. She understands Notre Dame and what it takes to help young women reach their potential here. We look forward to working closely with her in the years ahead.”

Ivey expanded her basketball prowess when she stepped away from Notre Dame to accept an assistant coaching position with the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2019-20 season. Ivey proved to be a true trailblazer, becoming the ninth active female coach in the NBA.

Over the past year, Ivey helped develop a young team, with a new coaching staff, into a playoff contender. The Grizzlies currently sit as the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference during the league’s COVID-19 suspension. Ivey worked with several different position groups with the Grizzlies, but primarily with standout point guard Ja Morant, a favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year honors.

“I want to express gratitude for the Memphis Grizzlies organization, especially Zach Kleiman and Taylor Jenkins,” Ivey added. “I am so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to be on their staff and to be a part of such an amazing organization. I have had the opportunity to learn and develop from Taylor and I’m so grateful for his amazing leadership and expertise. I developed a family in Memphis and I am so blessed.”

In her playing days, Ivey was an All-American point guard and three-time All-BIG EAST selection, going 109-22 in an Irish uniform and capping her collegiate playing career with a title run in 2001. Ivey went on to play five seasons in the WNBA after her selection by the Indiana Fever in the second round of the 2001 WNBA Draft. She spent four seasons with the Fever, helping them to their first playoff berth in franchise history in 2002.

Ivey joined McGraw’s staff in May of 2007, and the rest was history. 

It seems last fall was never a “goodbye;” it was simply a “see you later.” Welcome back, Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey. 

 

Stunner – Muffet McGraw to Retire

Legendary women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw announced her retirement on Wednesday. Find out all the news on this shocking story here.

Shocking news out of South Bend on Wednesday afternoon as legendary women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw is retiring.  McGraw has not only coached the Notre Dame women’s team since the 1987-88 season but turned them into one of the top programs in collegiate sports.

McGraw released the following statement on Wednesday:

McGraw led the Fighting Irish to 24 straight NCAA Tournament appearances beginning in 1996, a streak that would have ended this past year had the tournament been played.  In that stretch she won a pair of national championships while reaching the final five more times and the Final Four three more times.

McGraw retires with the seventh most coaching wins in the history of women’s basketball, compiling 936 wins between her five years at Lehigh before her 33 seasons at Notre Dame.  McGraw finishes with a career mark of 848-251 at Notre Dame and went 425-97 in Big East and ACC play.

McGraw was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.  She was also awarded 10 different coach of the year awards in her time with the Fighting Irish.

Former Notre Dame player and McGraw assitant Niele Ivey will be the next head coach.  She takes the post after working most recently as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

More on the story as it comes but an absolute stunner to see a legend like McGraw, who would perhaps be on the Mt. Rushmore of Women’s Basketball coaches all-time, retires.