Lori Gear McBride will inherit a proud legacy as the new head coach for UVM’s women’s basketball team this upcoming season.

She takes over the team from former coach Sharon Dawley, who led the team to back-to-back America East championships and the team’s first NCAA tournament victory in school history in an upset over Wisconsin.

Dawley left the Catamounts at the end of last season to become the head coach of the UMass Minutemen.

“We are excited to have Lori Gear McBride assume the leadership of our women’s basketball program,” Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Robert Corran said. ” We know that, under her direction, our student-athletes will continue to be outstanding representatives of our university, focused on excellence in their academic work and on the basketball court.”

Gear McBride was previously the head coach of Colby College, where she led the team to its first-ever national ranking in the 2009-2010 season.

She also led Division III Colby to its first appearance in the NCAA tournament, where they reached the second round.

She is pleased to be joining Vermont, as she has followed the team since her childhood in Quebec.

” I want to thank Dr. Corran and the search committee for providing this opportunity,” Gear McBride said. ” Vermont is a program I have revered since my childhood. I grew up watching and following the program, and I will work tirelessly to continue its tradition of excellence in every facet of the student-athlete experience.”

Gear McBride also brings along a strong academic tradition, as her team at Colby achieved a 3.49 grade point average this past fall.

“I believe strongly in the symmetry between academic and athletic success, and the appreciation of this at Vermont was very attractive,” Gear McBride said. “We will be a program that works hard toward achieving success in both areas and supports the young women in every possible way.”