TIFFIN -- Heidelberg University Athletic Director Matt Palm announced Friday the hiring of Rachel Ferri as the new head women's basketball coach. Ferri comes to Heidelberg following a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Va.
"Early on in the search process, Rachel rose to the top of an extremely talented applicant pool," said Palm. "She has had a great deal of success at the Division III level. We feel she is a rising star in women's basketball and we are excited to have her join our campus community."
Ferri, a 2013 graduate of Catholic University, is the 10th head coach in the history of Heidelberg women's basketball. During her two years at Christopher Newport, the Captains went 50-10 and made consecutive trips to the Sweet 16.
"I am honored to be named the next head women's basketball coach at Heidelberg University. I would like to thank President Huntington, Athletic Director Matt Palm, and the search committee for this incredible opportunity and for believing in my abilities to lead the women's basketball program," said Ferri, a native of Rhode Island. "I am excited to be a part of an outstanding institution that promotes overall student success in and out of the classroom and I look forward to immersing myself in such a supportive community as Tiffin."
Prior to her tenure at CNU, Ferri spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Springfield College -- considered the birthplace of basketball. While there, The Pride had back-to-back 20-win seasons.
"I am looking forward to leading the women's basketball program whose identity will be rooted in the importance of fundamentals and aggressiveness in everything we do on and off the court," said Ferri, whose first coaching experience came at Rhode Island College. "I am fully committed to helping this program be a competitive contender in the OAC with an exciting brand of basketball while continuing the tradition of strong academic success for our student athletes."
Ferri takes the reins of Heidelberg women's basketball from Morgan Harrigan. After seven seasons at the helm, Harrigan assumed a new role at HU as director of Academic Support in the Owen Center for Teaching and Learning.
Photo courtesy of Christopher Newport University Athletics