Maureen Magarity has been named the Elizabeth F. Mayer ’93 and Paul J. Mayer, M.D. Women’s Basketball Head Coach at the University of Vermont, according to an announcement made on April 13 by the university’s Director of Athletics. Magarity becomes the tenth head coach in the program’s history.
The appointment is significant for both the university and its women’s basketball program, which has a strong tradition in collegiate athletics. The new hire brings experience and past success to a team that is described as a source of pride for both campus and state.
“I’m thrilled that Maureen will be leading our women’s basketball program into the future,” said Schulman, Director of Athletics. “Maureen has had championship level success as a Division I head coach, and along the way developed a reputation as an exceptional mentor and role model who cares deeply about the wellbeing of her players as people, as students and as athletes. UVM Women’s Basketball is a great source of pride for our campus and the entire State of Vermont and I’m fully confident in Maureen’s ability to maintain our standing as one of the top mid-major programs in the country.”
Magarity previously led Holy Cross to consecutive Patriot League Tournament Championships in 2023 and 2024, with appearances in those years’ NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournaments—including a First Four win over UT Martin in 2024—and three straight seasons with at least twenty wins during her tenure there. She was also recognized as Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2022 after setting a school record with fourteen league wins that season.
Before Holy Cross, Magarity served ten seasons as head coach at New Hampshire within America East Conference play, becoming second all-time on their wins list with 146 victories. Her leadership brought New Hampshire its first-ever America East Regular Season title following a school-record twenty-six win campaign during which she earned honors such as America East Coach of the Year (2016-17), Kay Yow National Coach of the Year (2017), and finalist status for Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award.
“I’m honored to be named the Mayer Women’s Basketball Coach at Vermont,” said Magarity. “I’m so thankful to for his belief in me. Over the past couple of years, I’ve fallen in love with this program. Coach Kresge has done an incredible job restoring a championship culture and I will work tirelessly to maintain the standards that have been established here. Having lived here the past two years I have a unique perspective and appreciation for Burlington and UVM community. I look forward to continuing to be part it.”
Magarity holds degrees from Marist College—a B.A., majoring Communications/Public Relations with minor Psychology (2003) plus an M.P.A., Public Administration (2005). As an athlete herself she captained Marist teams that reached their first NCAA tournament appearance; prior coaching roles include stints at Army (Associate Head Coach), Fairfield University, Marist College itself—as well playing one year collegiately at Boston College.
She lives locally with her husband John Becker—head men’s basketball coach at Vermont—and their four daughters.
