WNEC names new coach

Chaszar named new women's bball coach

Former Temple University captain Nicole Chaszar has been named women's basketball coach at Western New England College, athletics director Mike Theulen announced Wednesday (Aug. 10).

"I'm excited about the opportunity to start my head coaching career at Western New England College," said Chaszar. "The College has enjoyed

tremendous success in recent years, and I'm looking forward to working with the great young women on the basketball team." Chaszar, 27, served as an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island the last two seasons and was the director of the squad's 2004 summer camp.

Her coaching resume also includes two years as a graduate assistant coach at Springfield College and one season as an assistant coach at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

"We're extremely happy to have Nicole join our coaching staff. She is a high-energy individual who will be a fine asset to our program," said Theulen. "As a player, Nicole was the epitome of a student-athlete. She also has gained a considerable amount of invaluable coaching experience in a relatively short amount of time at both the Division I and Division III levels. The future of our women's basketball program is indeed very

bright."

A native of Brackney, Pennsylvania, Chaszar is a 2000 graduate of Temple where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health Teaching. Chaszar played guard for the Owls and was a four-time Atlantic-10 Conference All-Academic selection, a two-year captain, and the team MVP her senior season.

Chaszar earned her Master of Science degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Athletic Administration at Springfield in 2003. While at Springfield, she assisted former URI great Naomi Graves in helping the Pride capture a pair of conference championships and invitations to the NCAA Division III Championship.

Chaszar succeeds Wendy Davis who left after six seasons to become the women's basketball coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. The Golden Bears posted a 19-8 record last season, advanced to the semifinals of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament, and participated in the ECAC Division III New England Championship.