Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: EMU Athletics/Chloe Smith
Tory Verdi Leaves Position as EMU Women’s Basketball Coach
4/9/2016 9:05:00 AM | Women's Basketball
National search begins for the program's eighth full-time head coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Vice President/Director of Athletics Heather Lyke announced Saturday morning, April 9, that Head Women's Basketball Coach Tory Verdi has accepted a similar position at the University of Massachusetts.
"We are incredibly proud of Coach Verdi and he did an exceptional job building our women's basketball team in his four years at the helm," Lyke stated. "He is a dynamic leader and coach and an even better person. We wish him and his family all the best in the future. Coach Verdi leaves our women's basketball program in tremendous standing filled with talented, bright student-athletes. We have great expectations for our student-athletes to continue to compete for Mid-American Conference championships and postseason opportunities in the coming years."
In four seasons at the helm of the EMU women's basketball squad, Verdi oversaw improvements in each season. He took over the program on April 26, 2012, and compiled a record of 72-61; however, in his first season, the team went just 8-22. In 2013-14, the squad posted a record of 18-14 before tying a program-best 24 wins during the 2014-15 campaign when the Eagles went 24-13, including winning 17 of their final 23 games. This season, the squad posted a record of 22-12 overall as it earned its third consecutive postseason appearance.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," said Verdi. "I was blessed to work with such a great staff and an outstanding group of student-athletes. In addition, I need to thank Heather Lyke, Erin Kido and the entire EMU community for their support during my time here. Hard work and dedication were instrumental to changing the culture and expectations and we were able to do some very special things here at EMU."
The Mid-American Conference West Division preseason favorite in 2015-16, the Green and White made its mark in the record books. Defensively, the Eagles totaled the fourth-most rebounds in a single season with 1,364 boards, while the team ranks 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.
Individually, juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) landed on the conference's postseason awards teams. Sweeney nabbed Second Team All-MAC honors after leading the Eagles in scoring (18.3 ppg). The Toledo, Ohio product also added 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Sweeney finished the season with the seventh highest scoring average and fifth highest point total in school history. Meanwhile, Morton was named All-MAC Honorable Mention and earned a spot on the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. While Sweeney and Morton garnered conference attention, graduate transfer Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King-Providence College) played a vital role in the Green and White's success. Baldwin made the most of her final year of eligibility posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. The 6-foot-3 center registered 54 rejections on the season, the fourth-most in a single season and highest total since 2011-12.
A large part of the Eagles' 2014-15 record setting performance came through 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 Green and White also 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 Postseason 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 led the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation during his second season with the Eagles, as the Green and White tied for 17th nationally on a list of most improved Division I programs. EMU finished 18-14 in the 2013-14 season with an increase of 10 wins and a nine-game improvement in overall record. Verdi also helped coach Cha Sweeney to Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and All-MAC second team honors, while Sweeney and Janay Morton were both named the to the All-Freshman squad.
In Verdi's first year in Ypsilanti, he took on the task of rebuilding the Eagles program that returned eight letterwinners that combined for just 32.4 points per contest. Despite facing the 20th toughest non-conference schedule in the nation, the team showed progress posting an 8-22 overall and 6-10 Mid-American Conference record.
Prior to taking the reigns of the Eastern Michigan women's basketball program, Verdi spent time coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels and had been a part of 12 teams that have participated in the postseason since the 2001-02 campaign. Verdi made coaching stops with the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska, the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), Columbia University, Western Connecticut State University, the University of Hartford and his alma mater Keene State College. While at Columbia, Verdi served as the interim head coach from February through April of 2005. He was the head assistant coach at Columbia from October 2004 until February 2005.
A national search to name Verdi's replacement is underway.
THE TORY VERDI FILE
Full Name: Salvatore P. Verdi
College: Keene State College (Graduated in 1996 - bachelor's in elementary education)
University of Hartford (Graduated in 2003 - master's in computer technology)
Family: Wife: Heather Sons: Tyler (11) and Bradyn (6) Daughter: Avery (9)
Postseason Coaching Experience:
2002 NCAA Division II Regionals, 2003 NCAA Division II First Round, 2003 WNBA Conference Finals, 2004 WNBA Finals, 2005 WNBA Finals, 2006 WNIT Third Round, 2007 NCAA Division I First Round, 2008 NCAA Division I Second Round, 2009 WNIT First Round, 2010 NCAA Division I "Sweet 16", 2011 WNIT Second Round, 2012 NCAA Division I "Sweet 16", 2014 WBI Second Round, 2015 WNIT "Sweet 16", 2016 WNIT Second Round
"We are incredibly proud of Coach Verdi and he did an exceptional job building our women's basketball team in his four years at the helm," Lyke stated. "He is a dynamic leader and coach and an even better person. We wish him and his family all the best in the future. Coach Verdi leaves our women's basketball program in tremendous standing filled with talented, bright student-athletes. We have great expectations for our student-athletes to continue to compete for Mid-American Conference championships and postseason opportunities in the coming years."
In four seasons at the helm of the EMU women's basketball squad, Verdi oversaw improvements in each season. He took over the program on April 26, 2012, and compiled a record of 72-61; however, in his first season, the team went just 8-22. In 2013-14, the squad posted a record of 18-14 before tying a program-best 24 wins during the 2014-15 campaign when the Eagles went 24-13, including winning 17 of their final 23 games. This season, the squad posted a record of 22-12 overall as it earned its third consecutive postseason appearance.
"This was an extremely difficult decision," said Verdi. "I was blessed to work with such a great staff and an outstanding group of student-athletes. In addition, I need to thank Heather Lyke, Erin Kido and the entire EMU community for their support during my time here. Hard work and dedication were instrumental to changing the culture and expectations and we were able to do some very special things here at EMU."
The Mid-American Conference West Division preseason favorite in 2015-16, the Green and White made its mark in the record books. Defensively, the Eagles totaled the fourth-most rebounds in a single season with 1,364 boards, while the team ranks 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.
Individually, juniors Cha Sweeney (Toledo, Ohio-Rogers) and Janay Morton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.-Osseo) landed on the conference's postseason awards teams. Sweeney nabbed Second Team All-MAC honors after leading the Eagles in scoring (18.3 ppg). The Toledo, Ohio product also added 4.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.2 steals per game. Sweeney finished the season with the seventh highest scoring average and fifth highest point total in school history. Meanwhile, Morton was named All-MAC Honorable Mention and earned a spot on the conference's first-ever All-Defensive Team. While Sweeney and Morton garnered conference attention, graduate transfer Chanise Baldwin (Pontiac, Mich.-Martin Luther King-Providence College) played a vital role in the Green and White's success. Baldwin made the most of her final year of eligibility posting career-highs in nearly every statistical category. The 6-foot-3 center registered 54 rejections on the season, the fourth-most in a single season and highest total since 2011-12.
A large part of the Eagles' 2014-15 record setting performance came through 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 Green and White also 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 Postseason 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 led the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in the nation during his second season with the Eagles, as the Green and White tied for 17th nationally on a list of most improved Division I programs. EMU finished 18-14 in the 2013-14 season with an increase of 10 wins and a nine-game improvement in overall record. Verdi also helped coach Cha Sweeney to Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and All-MAC second team honors, while Sweeney and Janay Morton were both named the to the All-Freshman squad.
In Verdi's first year in Ypsilanti, he took on the task of rebuilding the Eagles program that returned eight letterwinners that combined for just 32.4 points per contest. Despite facing the 20th toughest non-conference schedule in the nation, the team showed progress posting an 8-22 overall and 6-10 Mid-American Conference record.
Prior to taking the reigns of the Eastern Michigan women's basketball program, Verdi spent time coaching at both the collegiate and professional levels and had been a part of 12 teams that have participated in the postseason since the 2001-02 campaign. Verdi made coaching stops with the University of Kansas, the University of Nebraska, the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), Columbia University, Western Connecticut State University, the University of Hartford and his alma mater Keene State College. While at Columbia, Verdi served as the interim head coach from February through April of 2005. He was the head assistant coach at Columbia from October 2004 until February 2005.
A national search to name Verdi's replacement is underway.
THE TORY VERDI FILE
Full Name: Salvatore P. Verdi
College: Keene State College (Graduated in 1996 - bachelor's in elementary education)
University of Hartford (Graduated in 2003 - master's in computer technology)
Family: Wife: Heather Sons: Tyler (11) and Bradyn (6) Daughter: Avery (9)
| Intercollegiate Coaching Experience | |||
| YEAR | SCHOOL | JOB TITLE | RECORD |
| 2015-16 | Eastern Michigan | Head Coach | 22-12; 10-8 MAC; WNIT 2nd Round |
| 2014-15 | Eastern Michigan | Head Coach | 24-13; 11-7 MAC; WNIT "Sweet 16" |
| 2013-14 | Eastern Michigan | Head Coach | 18-14; 7-11 MAC; WBI Tournament |
| 2012-13 | Eastern Michigan | Head Coach | 8-22; 6-10 MAC |
| 2011-12 | Kansas | Assistant Coach | 21-13; 8-10 Big XII |
| 2010-11 | Kansas | Assistant Coach | 21-13; 6-10 Big XII |
| 2009-10 | Nebraska | Assistant Coach | 32-2; 16-0 Big XII |
| 2008-09 | Nebraska | Assistant Coach | 15-16; 6-10 Big XII |
| 2007-08 | Nebraska | Assistant Coach | 21-12; 9-7 Big XII |
| 2006-07 | Nebraska | Assistant Coach | 22-10; 10-6 Big XII |
| 2005-06 | Nebraska | Assistant Coach | 19-13; 8-8 Big XII |
| 2005 | Connecticut Sun (WNBA) | Special Assistant | 26-8 |
| 2004-05 | Columbia University | Assistant Coach/Interim Head Coach | 12-15; 5-9 IVY |
| 2004 | Connecticut Sun (WNBA) | Assistant Coach | 18-16 |
| 2003 | Connecticut Sun (WNBA) | Assistant Coach | 18-16 |
| 2002-03 | Western Connecticut State Univ. | Assistant MBB Coach | 20-9 |
| 2001-02 | Western Connecticut State Univ. | Assistant MBB Coach | 21-7 |
| 1997-00 | Pomperaug (Conn.) High School | Head Boys Basketball Coach | |
| 1996-97 | University of Hartford | Volunteer Assistant MBB Coach | 17-11; 11-7 AE |
| 1995-96 | Keene State College | Assistant MBB Coach | 2-22 ; 0-20 NECC |
| OVERALL COLLEGIATE COACHING RECORD | 285-181 (.612) | ||
Postseason Coaching Experience:
2002 NCAA Division II Regionals, 2003 NCAA Division II First Round, 2003 WNBA Conference Finals, 2004 WNBA Finals, 2005 WNBA Finals, 2006 WNIT Third Round, 2007 NCAA Division I First Round, 2008 NCAA Division I Second Round, 2009 WNIT First Round, 2010 NCAA Division I "Sweet 16", 2011 WNIT Second Round, 2012 NCAA Division I "Sweet 16", 2014 WBI Second Round, 2015 WNIT "Sweet 16", 2016 WNIT Second Round
Players Mentioned
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