Longtime hoops coach Inglese dies week after fall

Longtime women’s college basketball coach Cathy Inglese died Wednesday at age 60, a week after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in a fall.

Inglese’s family announced the death in a statement posted by her sister Nancy Inglese on Facebook.

“It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of our sister and daughter Cathy Inglese,” Nancy Inglese wrote on behalf of her family. “We will miss Cathy sooo very much. Our thanks go out to everyone for their unbelievable love and support.”

Inglese was hired as an assistant coach at Hofstra last month.

Cathy Inglese, shown here in 2003, was recently hired by Hofstra as an assistant. She was the head coach at Boston College, Vermont and Rhode Island during her career. AP Photo/Elise Amendola

“Our hearts are hurting with the passing of Cathy,” Hofstra women’s basketball coach Danielle Santos Atkinson said. “Cathy was one of the kindest and nicest people I have come to know in the coaching industry and in her short time with our program she left an indelible mark. Our entire program and the Hofstra family are heartbroken that she has passed but her memory will continue to influence our program every day we step on the court.”

Inglese was head coach from 1993-2008 at Boston College, where she led the Eagles to the NCAA Sweet 16 three times. Boston College won the 2004 Big East tournament under Inglese, too.

Inglese was also a college head coach from 1986-93 at Vermont, where her team had undefeated regular seasons in 1992 and 1993, and at Rhode Island from 2009-14.

A native of Connecticut, Inglese began her coaching career at Glastonbury High after graduating from Southern Connecticut State in 1980.

“The entire Hofstra community is devastated with the passing of Cathy,” Hofstra athletic director Rick Cole Jr. said. “Cathy was an amazing person and coach, and although part of our family for a short time she had already left a tremendous impact. Those who knew Cathy were touched by her kindness and generosity, and her mark on the world of college athletics is immense.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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