A pair of former Catamounts have been named assistant women’s basketball coaches at Vermont. Kate Cronin ’98 and Sheri Turnbull ’94 will join the UVM staff this season. Head coach Sharon Dawley made the announcement today.
“Kate and Sheri are two quality coaches that bring a valuable amount of experience and great enthusiasm to the staff,” Dawley said. “They are both passionate about the University of Vermont and the women’s basketball program. Bringing them aboard ties together the great UVM women’s basketball tradition, which they helped establish, with the new era of players and coaches. I think Kate and Sheri’s dynamic personalities will be a tremendous asset to the program,” Dawley continued.
Cronin, a former Catamount captain, comes back to her alma mater after a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Brown University. She helped lead the Bears to one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation, improving from a 5-22 record in 2001-02 to a 15-12 record in 2002-03.
Cronin, a native of Dundee, N.Y., began her collegiate career at Marquette University. She saw action in all 29 games and averaged 4.3 points per game her freshman season (1993-94) and the Golden Eagles earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Cronin transferred to Vermont following her rookie season at Marquette. During Cronin’s career as a Catamount, UVM finished no lower than second in the America East Standings and won the league’s regular season title her senior season, 1997-98.
Cronin, an America East All-Conference Second Team selection in 1998, finished her career ranked among the all-time Top 10 leaders in nine different categories. She graduated from Vermont with a degree in wildlife biology in 1998.
Following graduation, she played professional basketball in Figueira da Foz, Portugal for the Sporting Club Figueirense, where she averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Turnbull returns to her alma mater as a volunteer assistant coach after spending last winter as the head girls’ basketball coach at Colchester High School.
Turnbull, who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame September 17th, is one of the greatest players ever to wear the Vermont uniform. She graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,108 points) and rebounder (1,056). She currently ranks second in scoring, but remains UVM’s leader in rebounding and is the only player to collect more than 1,000 rebounds.
Turnbull’s career spanned from 1990-1994. During that time she led the Catamounts to three NCAA Tournament appearances, three American East Tournament Championships and America East Regular Season Titles. She was a three-time honorable mention Kodak All-American and the America East Player of the Year twice (1993 & 1994). Vermont retired her #30 last season, marking the first time
a women’s basketball player has earned the honor.
Turnbull, a native of Windsor, Ontario, guided the Catamounts to a 98-20 record during her four years. Included in that run were two “Dream Seasons,” 29-1 in 1991-92 and 28-1 in 1992-93, during which time UVM set the all-time NCAA record for most consecutive regular-season wins (53). She played in 105 games at Vermont, reaching double figures in 95% of those games. She also recorded a school record 54 double-doubles for her career.
Turnbull was also honored in Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She graduated with a degree in engineering in 1994. As a senior, Turnbull won the Semans Trophy, given to a UVM student-athlete who demonstrated outstanding leadership, loyalty and service to the University. She was also honored with the J. Edward Donnelly Award, given to the top male and female athlete at the school. Turnbull continued her career professionally overseas, playing in Turkey and Portugal. She also spent one year as a member of the Canadian National Team and was an alternate for the Canadian Olympic Team that represented the country in the 1996 Olympic Games.
Vermont opens the 2003-2004 season hosting Vanderbilt, St. Francis (N.Y.) and South Alabama in the annual Banknorth Classic on November 21st and 22nd at Patrick Gymnasium. ]
-Athletic Communications
