Villanova names Denise Dillon named the new head women’s basketball coach
By Matt Ward
The former Villanova Wildcat is returning home
Villanova has named Denise Dillon as their new women’s basketball head coach. She will return home to where she played college basketball, taking over for her college coach, the legendary Harry Perretta.
#NovaNation - we are thrilled to introduce the new head coach of #NovaWBB, Denise Dillon. Welcome home, Coach! 👏
— Villanova WBB (@novawbb) March 27, 2020
Story: https://t.co/fW6fkspBgs pic.twitter.com/q10o2cPMLM
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Dillon has been the head coach at Drexel for the past 17 seasons, including serving as the interim head coach for the 2003-2004 season. In that time, Dillon accumulated a 329-211 record, and was named the Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year this past season.
Dillon led Drexel to the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and is the winningest coach in the history of the program. She is also a member of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame, the Delaware County Athletes Hall of Fame, the Villanova Varsity Club Hall of Fame, and the Cardinal O’Hara Hall of Fame.
Dillon led the Dragons to 10 postseason appearances in the last 11 years, including that one trip to the NCAA Tournament, to go along with nine trips to the WNIT. She recorded seven 20-win seasons and 14 winning seasons at Drexel.
In 42 seasons as head coach, Perretta accumulated a 783-489 record, including 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament. The 2002-2003 season was Villanova’s most successful under Perretta, finishing the season with a 28-6 record and a trip to the Elite Eight. Peretta reached the 20-win mark in 20 of his 42 seasons and recorded 31 winning seasons at the helm.
For Drexel, their head coaching position has already been filled. Long-time assistant coach Amy Mallon will take over for Dillon.
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