|
4/6/2006 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt women’s basketball staff welcomed the arrival of assistant coach Lisa Cermignano, as Head Coach Melanie Balcomb announced the newest addition to her staff Thursday. Cermignano (pronounced Sir-min-YA-no) will be primarily responsible for instructing guard play, with additional emphasis placed on recruiting. She comes to Nashville after spending her last four years as an assistant coach at George Washington (Washington, D.C.), where she helped lead the team to four Atlantic Ten Regular Season Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. Working alongside Head Coach Joe McKeown, she was focused on team defense and developing the Colonials’ guards and other perimeter players. “We were looking to bring in someone that has a strong background in recruiting and guard-skill instruction,” Balcomb said. “Lisa is a really good match for what we needed in an assistant coach. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to coach at Vanderbilt,” Cermignano said. “The competitiveness of this position was a huge draw to me because Vanderbilt is a prestigious university in the top conference in the country. “I have gotten to know Coach Balcomb and her staff over the years,” Cermignano added. “And the work ethic of this staff is unmatched. This program has maintained a high level of success for many years, and I look forward to being a part of that.” Cermignano began her coaching career during the 1997-98 season as an assistant coach at Maryland. She moved on to Monmouth (West Long Branch, N.J.), where she served as an assistant coach for two seasons before accepting an administrative position with George Washington. After one season as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Colonials, Cermignano was promoted to assistant coach. During her playing career at George Washington, Cermignano was a three-year starter for a team which advanced to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments and made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1995 and the Elite Eight in 1997. She was named a captain prior to her senior season, and earned College Player of the Year honors from the South Jersey Basketball Club. The two-time All-Conference selection connected on 270 career three-pointers, second all-time at George Washington. Cermignano’s protégé — Cathy Joens — surpassed her three-point mark during the 2003-04 season. “I have known Lisa since she was a high school player,” Balcomb added. “I recruited her at Providence and coached against her at Xavier. I have always been extremely impressed with her as a competitor, even more so as I have gotten to know her as a recruiter and coach. She comes from a great program. I have a lot of respect for Coach McKeown and George Washington. I know Lisa will bring a lot of great things from a program that has been very, very successful.” A prep star at Glouchester Catholic (N.J.), Cermignano scored 2,063 points in her high school career and earned Gatorade State Player of the Year honors after the 1993 season. |
