E-mail: lisa.m.cermignano@vanderbilt.edu
Lisa Cermignano is entering her third season as an assistant coach for the Vanderbilt women[apos]s basketball team after joining the Commodores in the summer of 2006.
Cermignano (pronounced Sir-min-YA-no) is primarily responsible for instructing guard play, while also being an essential part of Vanderbilt[apos]s recruiting effort.
In just two seasons at VU, the Gloucester, N.J., native has made quite an impact with the Commodores.
In 2007, Cermignano[apos]s guards led the nation in three-point shooting and helped VU rank second in the NCAA in overall field goal percentage. Caroline Williams graduated that season as the most accurate long-range shooter in the history of the Southeastern Conference. That same year, point guard Dee Davis became the school[apos]s all-time assists leader and was the first pick in the second round of the WNBA draft.
She came to Nashville after spending her last five years as an assistant coach at George Washington (Washington, D.C.), where she helped lead the team to four Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. Working alongside Head Coach Joe McKeown, she was focused on team defense and developing the Colonials[apos] guards and other perimeter players.
[quote]We were looking to bring in someone that has a strong background in recruiting and guard-skill instruction,[quote] Balcomb said. [quote]Lisa has been a really good match for what we needed in an assistant coach.
[quote]Lisa has added another level of skill improvement to our staff,[quote] Balcomb said. [quote]She provides our guards with everything they need to succeed at this level and beyond. Lisa also brings a passion for defense, and has been instrumental in improving things like our matchup zone.[quote]
Cermignano began her coaching career during the 1997-98 season as an assistant 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 her alma mater, 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 GW, Cermignano was a three-year starter for a team which advanced to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, making 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. She was inducted into the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 9, 2008.
The two-time all-conference selection connected on 270 career three-pointers, second all-time at George Washington. Cermignano[apos]s protégé – Cathy Joens – surpassed her three-point mark during the 2003-04 season.
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.