MADISON (AP) — Wisconsin hired Boston University’s Marisa Moseley as women’s basketball coach as the Badgers attempt to rejuvenate a program that hasn’t produced a winning season in a decade.
Moseley was 45-29 at Boston University after working as an assistant on UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s staff during five of the Huskies’ national championship seasons (2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016).
She takes over for Jonathan Tsipis, who was fired after Wisconsin’s first-round loss in the Big Ten Tournament. Tsipis went 50-99 in five seasons, including a 16-74 mark in Big Ten competition.
“I am thrilled to be a Badger and to lead this program back to great heights!” Moseley said Friday in a statement released by the university. “Wisconsin has a rich and storied tradition of success in all its sports, and I am confident that our women’s basketball program will be joining those ranks in the future!”
Moseley built a losing program into a winner at Boston University, which went 26-63 in the three seasons before her arrival.
The Terriers went 12-3 this season and lost 64-54 to Lehigh in the Patriot League Tournament championship game.
“She has been a winner as a student-athlete, assistant coach and head coach” Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez said in a statement. “She values the student-athlete experience on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
Moseley arguably faces an even bigger challenge at Wisconsin as the Badgers try to make strides in the improving Big Ten. This marks the first year the Big Ten has sent as many as four teams (Indiana, Iowa, Maryland and Michigan) to the Sweet 16.
Wisconsin went 5-19 overall and 2-18 in the Big Ten this season. The Badgers haven’t had a winning season since 2010-11 and haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
Moseley has Big Ten experience after working as an assistant coach at Minnesota from 2007-09. Minnesota reached the NCAA Tournament in each of those seasons.
She played at Boston University from 2000-04. She was part of Boston University’s 2003 NCAA Tournament team.
Natalie Leuzinger, a freshman from Black Hawk High School in South Wayne, was optimistic by the hire.
“Personally, I have never had a female head coach for any sport that I have played before, so I am very excited,” Leuzinger said. “We had a team zoom call today with her so she could introduce herself a little bit and it went well. I think everyone is excited and looking forward to meeting her in-person and for just a clean slate to get back to work for next season.”
— Adam Krebs contributed to this story
