University of Massachusets Athletics
DeMarco Joins Women's Basketball Coaching Staff
October 22, 2009 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 22, 2009
AMHERST, Mass. - Cecelia DeMarco, who has led women's basketball programs at New Hampshire, Yale and MIT, has been named an assistant coach at UMass, women's basketball head coach Marnie Dacko announced on Thursday. DeMarco brings a wealth of knowledge to the Minutewomen basketball staff, including more than 20 years of experience coaching at the collegiate level.
"I am thrilled to have Cecelia DeMarco join our staff this season," said Dacko. "She has been a coaching colleague of mine for many years and is someone that I have always held in high regard and had the utmost respect for.
As a long-time head coach, Ce brings a great deal of knowledge to our program. In addition to being an outstanding teacher of the game, her enthusiasm has been infectious with our student-athletes, making the transition of a new face on the sidelines a seamless one."
DeMarco served as interim head coach at MIT in 2007-08, leading the squad to its best record in more than 10 seasons and a berth into the NEWMAC Championship for just the second time in program history.
She previously spent nine years as the head women's basketball coach at Yale from 1990-1999, becoming the Bulldogs' all-time leader in coaching victories. During her time at Yale, DeMarco lifted the program from last place to third in the Ivy League.
From 1977 to 1986, prior being promoted to Associate Director of Athletics in 1987-88, DeMarco was the frontwoman for the University of New Hampshire women's basketball program. DeMarco led the UNH Wildcats to seven winning campaigns and two conference championships, making nine consecutive postseason appearances and compiling a career record of 135-86. After guiding New Hampshire to a 24-7 mark in 1983, DeMarco was named Converse District Coach of the Year. She was inducted into the University of New Hampshire Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997.
DeMarco began her career in collegiate coaching as an assistant at Washington State in 1976-77 where she earned her masters in Physical Education.
Between her time at New Hampshire and Yale, DeMarco served as the Athletic Director at her alma mater, Bridgewater State College from 1988-1990 and coached basketball on a Goodwill Tour of Africa in 1987.
DeMarco graduated from Bridgewater State in 1973 with a degree in Health and Physical Education. She played both basketball and lacrosse for four seasons for the Bears and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. As a student-athlete, DeMarco was the top scorer for both squads her junior and senior seasons, while leading the women's basketball team to three state championships.
In addition to her experience as a collegiate coach and administrator, DeMarco has served as a television and radio color analyst for college basketball on both the MAAC Television and YES Networks, officiated collegiate lacrosse, worked as an auxiliary police officer and as a physical education instructor.