Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Niele Ivey wins ACC Coach of the Year
Two years ago, Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey went 10-10 in her first season on the job. Now she has the No. 1 team in the ACC and a Coach of the Year award to go along with it. Ivey was bestowed the prestigious honor by the league on Tuesday.
Ivey has quickly followed in the footsteps of her mentor, Muffet McGraw, who was a four-time Associated Press Coach of the Year winner in her legendary coaching career that spanned across four decades. Only 45 years old, Ivey, the first Black female head coach to win an ACC championship, is just getting started.
“A dream come true,” Ivey said. “A list of so many amazing coaches that have received that award before me. Obviously, Muffet McGraw. I’m honored. Blessed. I was speechless when I found out. Tears. Such an amazing moment for me and accomplishment. I wouldn’t have this award if it wasn’t for this amazing team and staff.”
She leads Notre Dame (24-4, 15-3 ACC) into this week’s conference tournament fresh off a 68-65 road win at Louisville that sealed the regular-season title. Notre Dame hadn’t beaten Louisville in six tries but downed the Cardinals in both regular-season matchups this year. The two teams could face each other again if they both reach this week’s tournament semifinals, which will be played Saturday.
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In three seasons at Notre Dame, Ivey has a 58-24 (.707) overall record and a 36-15 conference mark. McGraw put forth figures of 848-252 (.771) and 425-97 (.814), respectively, in 33 years as Notre Dame’s head coach.
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Notre Dame qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 24 straight seasons under McGraw. After missing the Big Dance in McGraw’s last season and in Ivey’s first, Ivey has the Irish back in the tourney for the second consecutive campaign. Last year, the Irish reached the Sweet 16 and was a few possessions away from upsetting North Carolina State to reach the Elite Eight. Ivey has the Irish’s sights set on another deep run in March.
Notre Dame gets its postseason started against either No. 8 seed North Carolina State (19-10, 9-9 ACC) or No. 9 seed Syracuse (18-11, 9-9 ACC) on Friday at 2 p.m. ET at the Greensboro Coliseum. The Irish made it to the semifinals of last year’s ACC Tournament but were upset by Miami. Notre Dame won the ACC Tournament five times under McGraw and the Big East Tournament once. A tournament victory this early in Ivey’s career could signal plenty more to come.
