Former URI Women’s Basketball Coach Inglese Dies at 60
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Former URI women’s basketball coach Cathy Inglese passed away at the age of 60 on Wednesday night.
Inglese’s death comes a week after she suffered a serious brain injury in a fall, as GoLocalProv reported.
Her passing was announced by her sister Nancy Inglese on Facebook.
“It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of our sister and daughter Cathy Inglese, due to complications from a traumatic brain injury. We will miss Cathy sooo very much. Our thanks go out to everyone for their unbelievable love and support. Cathy’s legacy lives on.”
Inglese coached at URI from 2009-2013 and was recently named an assistant coach at Hofstra University.
Inglese’s Coaching Career
Inglese was at URI from 2009 to 2013.
She left the program with an overall record of 16-41.
Inglese also coached at Boston College, Vermont, and Fairleigh Dickinson before being hired by Hofstra as an assistant coach.
"The entire Hofstra community is devastated with the passing of Cathy. Cathy was an amazing person and coach and although part of our family for a short time she had already left a tremendous impact. Those who knew Cathy were touched by her kindness and generosity and her mark on the world of college athletics is immense. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Inglese family and we join everyone in mourning the passing of an incredible person who touched so many lives,” said Hofstra Director of Athletics Rick Cole Jr.
Over her 27-year head coaching career, Inglese reached 20 wins 11 different times, made 10 NCAA Tournaments and coached six WNBA draft picks.
She was a four-time conference coach of the year and made three Sweet 16 appearances, winning three conference tournament titles and two regular-season titles.
Inglese also coached back-to-back perfect regular seasons at Vermont, going 28-0 in 1992 and 29-0 the following season for a streak of 57 consecutive victories.
Under Inglese, 53 players have made all-conference teams.
