Tory Verdi - Women's Basketball Coach - University of Massachusetts Athletics

Photo by: Thom Kendall - UMass Athletics

Tory Verdi

Title:
Head Coach
Location:
Champions Center
E-Mail:
clenois@admin.umass.edu

Tory Verdi • Massachusetts Highlights

- Higher UMass win total in seven seasons than the eight prior to Verdi's arrival
- Most wins in program history (27 in 2022-23)
- Clinched Program's first No. 1-seed in Atlantic 10 Championships (2023)
- Program's First Regular Season Title (2023)
- Program’s first Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Award Winner (2023)
- Program's first back-to-back Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honoree (2022-2023)
- Most Atlantic 10 Conference wins in program history (14 in 2023)
- Most consecutive Atlantic 10 Conference wins in program history (12-straight in 2023)
- Longest win streak in program history (12 games in 2023)
- Recorded 200th career win as a head coach on February 25, 2023
- First back-to-back seasons with 20-plus wins (2021-22 and 2022-23)
- Postseason Appearance in the NCAA Tournament (First Round in 2022)
- Program’s first Atlantic 10 Title (2022)
- Program’s first Atlantic 10 Player of the Year (2022)
- Second most wins in program history (26 in 2022)
- Recorded 100th career win at UMass on March 5, 2022
- Highest Team NET Ranking (46; 2022)
- Three A-10 All-Conference Team Members (2022)
- Led A-10 in scoring offense (71.7 ppg in 2021-22)
- Postseason Women's NIT berth (2021)
- Atlantic 10 Postseason Runner-Up (2021)
- Multiple postseason wins, a first in UMass history (2021)
- Recorded career win No. 150 on March 22, 2021
- Three A-10 All-Championship Team selections (2021)
- Led the A-10's top scoring offense (71.7 ppg in 2020-21)
- A-10 leader in assists (15.2 apg in 2020-21)
- Top 100 NET ranking (2020-21)
- Tied a Massachusetts record with 20 wins (2019-20)
- Program record 11-game winning streak (2019-20)
- Fourth-place finish in the A-10, highest in the league's current format (2020)
- Highest academic GPAs since 2005-06

New England native and 25-year coaching veteran Tory Verdi was named the 11th women's basketball head coach at the University of Massachusetts on April 9, 2016.

With a wealth of experience at both the collegiate and professional levels, Verdi-coached teams have advanced to postseason play in 17 of the last 22 seasons dating back to 2001-02. Over his seven years in Amherst, Verdi has turned Massachusetts women’s basketball into a relevant contender in the Atlantic 10 and beyond, returning the program to heights not seen since the 1990s.

Massachusetts continued building upon its successes throughout the 2022-23 season, with the program garnering the first Atlantic 10 Regular Season Championship in program history. The Minutewomen also played in the Atlantic 10 tournament championship game and advanced to the postseason for a third consecutive season. UMass clinched its first No. 1-seed in the Atlantic 10 Championships after finishing A-10 Conference competition with a 14-2 record. The 14 wins in league play marked the most for the program. Earning an automatic bid into the WNIT, Massachusetts defeated UAlbany on March 17, 2023, in the tournament’s First Round marking the team’s 27th victory - the most in program history. With the 27 victories, it was also the first time the Minutewomen had back-to-back seasons with 20-plus wins. In addition, UMass went on its longest win streak of 12 games, from January 7, 2023 to February 19, 2023, also becoming the most consecutive A-10 Conference wins for the program.

The Minutewomen received votes 10 times in the USA TODAY/WCBA Coaches Poll throughout the year, while earning votes twice in the AP Top 25 National Poll, as well. Individually, UMass saw Sydney Taylor join the 1,000th-point club, becoming the 23rd Minutewomen in program history to achieve the feat, on November 22, 2022. Taylor also competed in her 100th career game on February 19, 2023. Additionally, Verdi recorded his 200th career win as a head coach on February 25, 2023.

As one of the most decorated athletes in program history, Sam Breen became the program’s first back-to-back A-10 Player of the Year and the first Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year. Breen shattered a 43-year-old career points record, finishing with 1,974 points (including her total at Penn State), while achieving the most points in a single season with 589. Breen placed herself within the top-15 of 14 career record categories, including holding the second most rebounds (1,154). She also was selected to the A-10 All-Conference First Team, named the ECAC Player of the Year, landed on the All-ECAC First Team, was a two-time Becky Hammon Mid-Major Semifinalist and was named to the FIU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.

Destiney Philoxy etched her name in the record book, claiming the top spot in career assists (699) and total games played (148). She put her name on 16 career record categories upon completing her time with the Minutewomen.

Along with Breen, Taylor was placed on the A-10 All-Conference First Team while also earning a spot on the A-10 All-Academic Team and she was named to the FIU Thanksgiving Classic MVP. Ber’Nyah Mayo was selected to the A-10 All-Conference Second Team and the A-10 All-Tournament Team, with Philoxy being tabbed to the A-10 All-Defensive Team.

UMass completed the season as the A-10’s top scoring offense (76.2 ppg) for the third-straight year, tied for second in the league in rebounding (40.5 rpg) and sat in first in assists with an 18.15 assists per game average. Breen’s 10.1 rebounds per game placed her in first in the conference and her 17.3 points per game ranked third in the league. Her 20 double-doubles were the most in the A-10 and ranked ninth in the nation, while her one triple-double tied for third in the NCAA. Philoxy sat in second in the conference with 5.0 assists per game, with her dimes total ranking 22nd nationally. Taylor sat atop the A-10 leaderboard with 3.2 three-point field goals per game, tying her for sixth in the NCAA, while her 104 total three-pointers ranked first in the conference and tied for seventh nationally.

The 2021-22 season shattered ceilings and broke records, as the program garnered its first Atlantic 10 Championship Title to earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament for the first appearance since 1998. On March 5, 2022, UMass topped Saint Joseph’s for Verdi’s 100th win at the helm of Massachusetts to advance to the A-10 Finals. The No. 3-seeded Minutewomen defeated No. 1 seed Dayton in the Title Game to hoist the A-10 trophy. On March 19, 2022, the team made its appearance in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to a successful postseason, UMass tallied the most wins in program history after finishing 26-7 overall on the year.

Throughout the season, UMass made history, receiving votes in a national poll for the first time since the 1994-95 season, tabbing a vote five times during the year. Individually, Massachusetts saw Sam Breen and Destiney Philoxy become the 21st and 22nd Minutewomen to eclipse their 1,000th career point each on December 8, 2021. Both Philoxy and Breen played in their 100th career games on the year, as well.

Breen continued to be one of the most decorated athletes in the season, earning the program’s first A-10 Player of the Year honor, plus the league’s All-Conference First Team and All-Academic Team. She also was named the A-10 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and tabbed a spot on the All-Championship Team. Breen collected CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, while being announced a 2022 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Semifinalist. Sydney Taylor joined Breen on the All-Championship Team, while Taylor and Philoxy were also named to the A-10 All-Conference Second Team.

Massachusetts finished the year atop the leaderboard in the A-10 scoring offense (71.7 ppg) for the second consecutive season and was also second in the league in rebounding (40.0 rpg) and in assists with a 14.58 average. Breen’s 10.1 rebounds per game placed her second in the conference, as her 17 double-doubles were the most in the league and tied her for 17th in the nation. Philoxy had the most dimes in the A-10 with 187, averaging 5.7 per game. Her total assists allowed her to tie for ninth in the NCAA, while her average place her 17th nationally.

Capped by a berth in the WNIT, the 2020-21 season was one to remember with the program’s first national postseason appearance since 1998, in addition to the first trip to the Atlantic 10 Championship Game since ‘98. On March 22, 2021, UMass defeated Ohio in the WNIT Consolation Final, securing Verdi’s 150th career victory as a collegiate head coach. On that special day, UMass also made history garnering multiple postseason wins for the first time.

Sam Breen had one of the most decorated seasons in program history, earning 2021 WNIT All-Region honors, plus Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team, All-Championship and All-Academic Team laurels. Following the season, Breen was tabbed CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. Destiney Philoxy and Sydney Taylor joined Breen on the A-10 All-Championship Team, and Philoxy also was placed on the All-Conference Second Team.

Massachusetts finished the year with the A-10’s top scoring offense (71.7 ppg) and also was the league’s top ball distributing team with a 15.2 assists average. Breen’s 18 points per game ranked second in the league and Philoxy was tied for fifth nationally with 6.5 assists a night.

The 2019-20 season featured a slew of team and individual superlatives. UMass tied a program record with 20 wins, set a new top mark with an 11-game winning streak and finished tied for fourth place in the A-10, the highest under the league’s current format. Massachusetts hosted, and won, an A-10 Tournament game at the Mullins Center for the first time since 1998, en route to the league Quarterfinals.

Hailey Leidel became the first Minutewoman to accumulate 1,800 points, 600 rebounds and 200 assists and finished just 18 points from surpassing the career scoring record. Leidel helped amass the most wins in a four-year stretch since 2001 and, along with Breen, was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team. Leidel also received an All-Academic Team nod.

The 2018-19 team had more victories than any UMass group since 2006-07, while reaching the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. Leidel continued her ascent up the record book and took sole possession of the program record for three-pointers made (226). Philoxy earned a spot on the A-10 All-Rookie Team providing 10.8 points per game to go with an even three assists.

Since Verdi’s arrival in Amherst in 2016, he has positioned UMass to compete for A-10 championships in five short years. Many have witnessed the positive trajectory of the program, and the bigger and bolder expectations with each passing year. Verdi has alumni and fans excited about the future of this Minutewomen basketball program.

Verdi’s Minutewomen made tremendous strides during his first two seasons, garnering a pair of A-10 All Rookie selections and Leidel’s Rookie of the Year nod in 2017. Maggie Mulligan was one of the league’s most improved players during that time with 33 double-doubles.

Verdi arrived in Amherst with a head coaching record of 72-61 after spending four seasons at Eastern Michigan University. His teams advanced to the 2015 and 2016 WNIT, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance, and the Mid-American Conference Championship Game in 2015.

Arriving at EMU for the 2012-13 campaign, he took an 8-22 squad to a record of 24-13 in 2014-15 and 22-12 in 2015-16. He also secured the MAC's No. 1 recruiting class twice during his tenure.

Under Verdi, the 2015-16 MAC West Division preseason favorite Eagles made their mark in the EMU record books. Defensively, the team totaled the fourth-most rebounds in a single season (1,364), along with seventh all-time in blocks (92) and third in steals (386).

EMU's high-tempo offense poured in 2,445 points, the third-most in a single season in school history, along with dishing out 435 assists, good for seventh-most. Additionally, the Eagles converted 218 three-pointers, ranking fourth all-time and marking the third consecutive season in which EMU has made 200 or more triples.

A large part Verdi’s 2014-15 record-setting performance came from the Eagles late run during the regular season and into postseason play. EMU finished the regular season with wins in its final four games, while also winning seven of its last eight. The Eagles appeared in eight postseason games, winning six of them. The Eagles advanced to the Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship, winning four-of-five MAC Tournament games, before advancing to the Sweet 16 of the 2015 WNIT. The Eagles rewrote the EMU record book with 124 different all-time top performances, including the most points in a season (2,549), field goals made (936), rebounds (1,539) and three-pointers made (223).

Verdi spent the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at the University of Kansas. The Jayhawks advanced to the 2012 NCAA Sweet Sixteen and the 2011 WNIT Second Round.

Prior to his arrival in Lawrence, Verdi was an assistant coach at the University of Nebraska for five seasons (2005-10). The Huskers advanced to the postseason every year Verdi served on staff in Lincoln and collected the Big 12 Regular-Season Championship in 2009-10 with a 16-0 conference record. History was made that season as the Huskers obtained a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and reached the Sweet Sixteen.

Verdi spent the 2003, 2004 and 2005 seasons on staff with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun, reaching the postseason during each year and winning the Eastern Conference in ‘05.

In 2004-05 collegiate season, Columbia tabbed Verdi the top assistant and eventual interim head coach.

Verdi was inducted into the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame on April 24, 2016.

The Tory Verdi File

Hometown: New Britain, Conn.

Alma Mater:
Keene State '96 (Bachelor's, Elementary Education)
Hartford '03 (Master's, Computer Technology)

Wife: Heather

Children: Avery, Bradyn and Tyler

Tory Verdi • Coaching History

2016-present • Massachusetts • Head Coach

2012-16 • Eastern Michigan • Head Coach

2010-12 • Kansas • Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

2005-10 • Nebraska • Assistant Coach

2005 • Connecticut Sun (WNBA) • Special Assistant

2004-05 • Columbia • Asst. Coach/Interim Head Coach