ELMIRA, NY - Elmira College has named Shannon Howley head coach of the Elmira College Women’s Basketball  program.   She replaces Matt Donohue, who left after five seasons to accept a head coaching position at the Catholic University. 

“I want to thank Dr. Thomas Meier and Dean Pat Thompson ’75 for this opportunity. I am really excited about the position,” said Howley “I am looking forward to building on the traditions of the Elmira College ’s Women’s Basketball program.” 

Howley joins the Soaring Eagles staff after three seasons as Head Women’s Basketball Coach and Assistant Director of Athletics at Arcadia University.   In her three seasons with Arcadia , she molded the Knights from a six-win team in 2005-2006 to narrowly missing the postseason in 2008.

Her coaching resume also includes assistant coaching positions at the Catholic University and Marymount University.   In four seasons at Marymount her teams tallied an overall record of 90-30 including three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the Final Four in 2004.  

Coach Howley inherits a team that finished the 2007-2008 season at 12-13 overall, 8-8 in the Empire 8.   The Soaring Eagles boast a number of returning players including second year player Becky Peterman ’11 (Glen Gardner, NJ – Voorhees) and fourth year forward Mary Symonds ’09 (South Acworth, NH – Fall Mountain).   They will be helped by third year guard Marcia Coakley ’09 (Plattsburgh, NY – Beekmantown) and second year forward Erin Rupell ’11 ( Lehighton, PA – Leighton), who’s 8.7 points per game are the most among returning starters.   The Soaring Eagles had three players earn all-conference honors in the past three seasons.   The team also participated in two Empire 8 Championship games and claimed the 2006 Regular Season title.   Recent team achievements also include two ECAC appearances in the last three years, and advancing to the Tournament Finals in 2006. 

“Coach Howley brings experience and a great understanding of the game,” said Dean Pat Thompson, Vice President of Athletics and Health Services.   “We feel she will continue the positive momentum in the program.” 

Howley, who is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the Women’s Basketball Regional Committee, hails from Silver Spring, MD. She holds a B.S. in communications from Radford University and received her master’s degree in education from Arcadia.