July 14, 2010
PITTSBURGH –University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball head coach Agnus Berenato has named former Panther standout Mallorie Winn as an assistant coach.
“It is with great excitement and pride that we welcome Mallorie back into our Pitt home,” said Berenato. “Having recruited and coached Mallorie as a student-athlete at Georgia Tech and then at Pitt, I was able to see firsthand the tremendous qualities that Mallorie brings to a team. It was an easy decision to call Mallorie and ask her to once again come home.”
“Coach Berenato and I have worked together in one way or another for almost a decade now,” said Winn. “When I followed Coach Berenato to the University of Pittsburgh after leaving Georgia Tech, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that I had made one of the best decisions of my life. As demonstrated here at Pitt, Coach Berenato knows what it takes to build a successful women's basketball program from the ground up. She is an accomplished coach, a caring individual, and a member of my family.”
Winn comes to Pitt from Saddleback College in California, where she has served as a volunteer coach on the women’s basketball staff. During the 2009-10 season she scouted high school games and also played a key role in game preparation, breaking down opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.
“As a player, I had team goals as well as individual goals,” said Winn. “As a coach, every goal is a team goal and I welcome my new role and look forward to working with the exceptionally talented coaches and players here at Pitt.”
Winn has also served as a coach and individual trainer with the 80/20 basketball organization which offers instruction to boys and girls ages 7-16. While at 80/20, Winn ran weekly practices of 30 or more players and also coached teams in several basketball leagues.
During the 2008-09 season, Winn served as the head coach at The Campus School at Carlow University, developing practice plans and coordinating team travel in addition to her coaching duties.
“Pittsburgh feels like home and I happy to be back,” added Winn. “I look forward to returning to the place that essentially birthed my athletic career and allowed me to pursue my educational goals. I am fortunate to be under the direction of Coach Berenato and to be working with such an accomplished staff. Pitt women's basketball has a tradition of breaking barriers and overcoming obstacles and I am thrilled to be a part of the program, albeit in a new position.”
Winn was a standout point guard with the Panthers from 2005-08 after transferring from Georgia Tech. She led the team in assists both seasons she played and eclipsed the 1,000 point mark during her final season at Pitt and finished with 1,028, scoring 812 of those points while at Pitt and ranking 16th in the Panthers’ career scoring ranks.
An integral part of the rise of the women’s basketball program, Winn helped spark the Panthers to three consecutive postseason appearances in her time at Pitt. Despite suffering a season-ending injury just prior to the start of the 2006-07 season, Winn was a key contributor from the bench before returning the following season to be a part of the run to the first Sweet 16 in Pitt history.
During the 2005-06 campaign – the first of four consecutive 20-win seasons for the Panthers – Winn, a team captain, tallied a team-high 131 assists and earned All-Big East Second Team honors. After helping lead the Panthers to the semifinals of the WNIT, Winn earned All-WNIT Tournament Team honors. She also finished her career ranking 12th in assists (252).
“Mallorie helped us lay the ground work for Pitt women’s basketball to be a national presence,” added Berenato. “Mallorie brings great basketball experiences combined with the experience of being a student and having earned two degrees, with her to our current team. It is a great opportunity for my staff and team to learn from someone who was in the trenches and understands what Pitt women’s basketball wants to accomplish.”
Winn’s perseverance through her time at Pitt was highlighted in 2008 when she earned the David Sandberg Champion Award, presented annually to a Pitt student-athlete who displays the dedication to academic and athletic excellence, with an undying spirit and a passionate commitment to the improvement of the University of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.
Winn is a two-time graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, earning her bachelor’s degree in legal studies in 2007 and her master’s degree in human security in 2009.
“I am excited to be a part of the entire process in terms of recruiting, player development, game preparation and community outreach,” said Winn. “I will forever remember and value my experiences as a student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh. To have the opportunity to continue my career in basketball at Pitt is something I hold dear to my heart and is remarkable.”
