Nov. 14, 2002
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame women’s basketball coach Muffet McGraw is one of seven people slated to be inducted into the Saint Joseph’s University Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend in Philadelphia. The formal induction ceremonies will take place at the Erivan K. Haub Executive Center on the SJU campus Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m. (EST).
McGraw was a standout point guard for Saint Joseph’s during its first four years of varsity competition, serving as team captain during her final two seasons (1975-76 and 1976-77). She helped lead the Hawks to an 18-3 record as a junior and a third-place finish in the AIAW Eastern Regional Tournament. A year later, she guided SJU to a 23-5 record, a sixth-place finish at the AIAW National Tournament, and a No. 3 national ranking in the Associated Press poll, the highest year-end poll finish in school history. She also set the Saint Joseph’s single-season record for steals with 102 during the 1976-77 campaign.
McGraw graduated from SJU in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She then played one season for the California Dreams in the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL) before beginning her college coaching career as an assistant coach at her alma mater from 1980-82. Following five successful seasons at Lehigh (1983-87), McGraw was named the head coach at Notre Dame, a position she has held ever since.
In her 15 seasons with the Irish, McGraw has posted a stellar 342-127 (.729) record, guiding Notre Dame to 13 20-win seasons, nine postseason appearances, seven NCAA Tournament berths, four Sweet Sixteen visits, two Final Fours and the 2001 NCAA title. The 2001 Naismith and AP National Coach of the Year, McGraw already is a member of the SJU Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Philadelphia Big Five Hall of Fame.
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