Scranton, Pa. - Veteran Head Women's Basketball Coach Tara Macciocco is departing Marywood University for a similar role at nearby Wilkes University. Macciocco leaves Marywood after a stellar 14-year Head Coaching career with the Pacers after being named the program's first full-time Head Coach in 2004.
"I am very thankful and always will be to Marywood University for giving me my first Head Coaching job and for allowing me to establish a successful women's program over the past fourteen years. I felt that I couldn't let the chance slip by to return to where it all began for me and to the place that help me realize my dreams of becoming a Head College Basketball Coach. I am really excited for the challenge ahead and look forward to building the women's basketball program at Wilkes University." Macciocco becomes the 14th women's basketball coach in program history at Wilkes.
Macciocco leaves Marywood as one of the winningest coaches of all time in any sport. The first full-time women's basketball coach in school history, she compiled a 206-163 (.558) record over the last 14 seasons, including 10 straight Colonial States Athletic Conference playoff berths and two CSAC Coach of the Year honors (2015-16, 2016-17). The Pacers also made seven ECAC post-season tournament appearances in the last eight years. Her 206 wins ranks her second all-time behind current Head Softball Coach Bob Fitzsimmons (266 wins at the end of 2017 season).
"I'm delighted for Tara and sad for us, but I understand," Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, Director of Athletics and Recreation told Scott Walsh of the Scranton Times-Tribune. "Tara has just been awesome for us. She leaves our program better than when she came. She's an ethical woman who's an outstanding coach. She's a real asset and I just wish her the very, very best at Wilkes" Gunning said.
Since 2004, Macciocco guided the Pacers to a 141-83 (.629) conference record. She produced numerous All-Conference selections as well as two CSAC Rookie of the Year Honorees in Gab Giordano (2015-16) and Erika Bistran (2017-18). Academically, Macciocco's Pacers were honored by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) three times (2007-08, 16th; 2012-13, 12th; 2016-17, 16th) for having a Top-25 team GPA among all Division III schools.
Macciocco also helped produce 2008-09 CSAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Caitlin Hadzimichalis, who is now the Head Coach at nearby King's College in Wilkes-Barre.
At Marywood, Macciocco also served as Assistant Director of Athletics and Recreation, serving as Senior Woman Administrator and Academic and Compliance Coordinator for the Athletic Department. She also served various other coaching roles during her time at Marywood, including being an assistant volleyball, women's lacrosse and women's golf coach. At Wilkes, Macciocco will serve in a full-time head coaching capacity.
In 2001, Macciocco was named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Wilkes University. For her three seasons at Wilkes University, Macciocco acted as recruiting coordinator for the program and worked primarily with the development of the guards. A former Division I player, Macciocco was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in October of 2004 and was ranked by the Scranton Times-Tribune as one of the area's top 100 athletes of all-time.Macciocco is also a 2009 graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy.
After playing scholastically at neighboring high school, Dunmore. At Dunmore High School, Tara scored 2,211 career points and led Dunmore to the 1994 state Class AA title game. Macciocco earned a Division I scholarship to Penn State University and was a member of the Lady Lions 1994 Big Ten Championship team and was an integral part in the Lady Lions NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" run in 1996. Macciocco earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport & Recreational Management from Penn State in 1998.
Macciocco finished her playing career at Division II Lock Haven University during the 1998-1999 season where she was named to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference all conference team while setting a school record for free throw percentage and was also ranked second in the nation in that same category during the 1998-1999 season.
A national search for a replacement will begin in the near future. Interested candidates should apply via the Human Resources page when the posting becomes available.
