Head women’s basketball coach Sharay Hall will be stepping down from her position at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
Hall has accepted a position as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program at Colgate University, which competes in NCAA Division I.
Kaserra Owens, a 2017 Pitt-Bradford graduate who served on Hall’s coaching staff during the 2018-19 season as an assistant, was named the interim head coach.
“While we are disappointed to lose Coach Hall, this is an incredible opportunity for her and her career as a college basketball coach,” Pitt-Bradford Director of Athletics Bret Butler said.
“I am not surprised at all – she is an excellent coach and teacher of the game; sooner or later I knew she would have the chance to climb the professional ladder. I wish her all the best and thank her for the last two seasons. She did a wonderful job for us.”
In her two seasons at the helm, Hall guided the Panthers to a combined 27-24 overall record with a 21-15 mark in Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contests.
“I am greatly appreciative and thankful for the opportunities that I’ve been given during my time at Pitt-Bradford,” Hall said. “This experience has not only been rewarding, but fulfilling in the pursuit of my professional career. Thank you to the whole Pitt-Bradford community and athletics department for the support and belief in me and what I had to offer the organization. Although bittersweet, I am excited for the next chapter ahead.”
Hall led the Panthers to back-to-back AMCC Semifinals appearances and regular-season third-place finishes in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Under her guidance, a pair of Panthers earned All-AMCC First Team honors (Ali Rinfrette, 2017-18; Jennifer Isenberg, 2018-19). Rinfrette put together one of the best overall seasons in the nation in 2017-18, finishing fourth in the country in scoring (22.5 points per game) and earning both CoSIDA Academic All-American and Jostens Trophy finalist recognition.
Isenberg returned for her senior year this past season and was honored as the AMCC Preseason Player of the Year. She followed up the preseason accolade by averaging 14.5 points per game and 8.5 rebounds per game.
UPB’s interim coach, Bradford native Kaserra Owens, was a four-year starter for the Panthers from 2013-17, appearing in 97 games and starting 89 while scoring 900 career points, pulling in 503 career rebounds and dishing 172 career assists.
“I am extremely grateful and excited for the opportunity to come back and be a part of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s women’s basketball program in a different role,” Owens said. “I would like to thank President Catherine Koverola and Director of Athletics Bret Butler for this amazing opportunity they have entrusted me with.”
A search for the full-time head coach will begin immediately after next season is complete.
