The University of Pittsburgh has terminated women's basketball coach Tory Verdi after three seasons, as announced by athletic director Allen Greene on Tuesday. The decision follows a challenging tenure marked by both on-court struggles and off-field legal issues.
Key Takeaways
The University of Pittsburgh has fired women's basketball coach Tory Verdi after three seasons marked by poor performance and legal issues. The Panthers finished the season with an 8-23 record.
- Pitt fires Tory Verdi after a three-year tenure with a 29-66 overall record
- Decision comes amid allegations of abusive coaching methods from former players
- University denies allegations, wishes Verdi well in future endeavors
- Panthers have struggled since moving to the ACC in 2013, with only one NCAA tournament appearance since then
Verdi's dismissal comes shortly after the Panthers missed the ACC women's tournament with an 8-23 overall record this season, including a dismal 1-17 mark in conference play. The team ended their campaign on a 14-game losing streak. Greene stated that despite a thorough evaluation, the program had not shown sufficient competitive progress.
"After a thorough and thoughtful evaluation of our women's basketball program, it has been determined that we have not progressed enough competitively and now is the right time to seek a new leader for our program," Greene said in a statement. "We thank Tory for his dedication over the past three seasons and wish him and his family nothing but the best in their future endeavors."
The decision comes just weeks after former Pitt players filed a lawsuit against Verdi and the university, alleging abusive coaching methods and claiming their pleas for intervention went unheard. The school has denied these allegations.
Verdi's overall record with the Panthers stands at 29-66. He was hired in 2023 after a successful stint at Massachusetts, where he compiled a 128-86 record over seven seasons. His coaching career also includes stops at Columbia and Eastern Michigan.
The firing marks another chapter in the Panthers' struggles since moving from the Big East to the ACC in 2013. Pitt has managed just one NCAA tournament appearance in that span, coming in 2015 under former coach Suzie McConnell Serio. The program's next coach will be its third in four years.
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