Click here to email Coach McConnell-Serio.

Women's Basketball Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh native Suzie McConnell-Serio, one of the most highly-decorated players in the history of women's basketball, owner of over 300 wins as a high school head coach and former WNBA Coach of the Year, is in her sixth season as head coach of the Duquesne women's basketball program.

AT DUQUESNE (2007-PRESENT)
In McConnell-Serio's first season, the team who the coaches and media picked to finish 13th in the Atlantic 10 Conference, surprised everybody by finishing tied for seventh place in the A-10 with a record of 6-8 and 15-15 overall. Inheriting a team coming off its worst since 1993 (7-20 in 2007) McConnell-Serio guided the Dukes to their second most improved season in school history (6.5 games). Additionally, DU improved 79 positions in the RPI, which was the most since 2001. McConnell-Serio's success on the floor was recognized by league officials as Kristi Little was named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year as well as being named to the A-10 Third Team All-Conference and All Defensive Team.

In McConnell-Serio's second season, Duquesne recorded its first-ever 20-win season. During the 2008-09 year, Duquesne won six consecutive A-10 games and received its first-ever post-season berth when DU was selected to host a WNIT game. The Dukes' winning percentage of .625 was the best since 1998. Additionally, the 2009 squad set a then-program-high with 2,208 points scored and tied the school record with 487 assists. Kristi Little became the only A-10 player to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards. She was also named to the A-10 First-Team All-Conference and All-Defensive Team.

McConnell-Serio once again led the Dukes to a 20-win season and WNIT appearance in 2009-10. The Dukes finished tied for fourth in the A-10 with a record of 9-5 and became the first squad to achieve back-to-back winning seasons in conference since joining the league in 1983-84. Samantha Pollino was named to Second-Team All-Conference as well as to the All-Academic team, while Keri Pryor was picked to the Honorable Mention team. The Dukes also received votes in the AP national rankings for the first time since 2002.

Coming off a program-best 24-win season in 2010-11, Coach Serio led the Dukes to its third straight post-season appearance when they advanced to the third round of the WNIT. The season was highlighted with wins at #12 Ohio State and at Kansas. Additionally, Duquesne's 14 road wins was the most by any NCAA Division I team, while earning its highest-ever seed for the Atlantic 10 Championship - third. Individually, four Dukes were named to Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams, including the A-10 Rookie of the Year Wumi Agunbiade.

In 2011-12 Duquesne recorded its fourth consecutive 20-win season and Women's National Invitation Tournament appearance during the 2011-12 season. The Dukes finished 20-12 overall, 7-7 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. DUQ recorded a school record eight-game winning streak, one of which included a 61-55 win over NCAA Tournament participant West Virginia. This was the first victory over the Mountaineers since 1995. The senior class of Alex Gensler and Vanessa Abel finished as the winningest class is program history with 84 victories. Individually, three Dukes were named to the All-Conference team - Gensler and sophomore Wumi Agunbiade were named Atlantic 10 Second-Team All-Conference and junior Jocelyn Floyd was named to the All-Defensive Team.

WITH USA BASKETBALL
In the Summer of 2011, McConnell-Serio had her first USA Basketball coaching assignment as an assistant for the USA Women's World University Games Team who won gold. This was the fifth gold medal McConnell-Serio's won for the USA - 1988 Olympics, 1986 FIBA World Championship, 1991 World University Games and the 1985 R. William Jones Cup. She also won a bronze medal with the USA at the 1992 Olympics.

AS A HEAD COACH WITH THE MINNESOTA LYNX (2003-06)
In January of 2003, McConnell-Serio was named head coach of the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. She took a team that finished 10-22 in the previous season to an 18-16 record and first-ever playoff appearance. One year later, she took a team picked to finish last in the Western Conference by a number of preseason publications and made a return trip to the playoffs and in the process was named the 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year. The `04 Lynx, who earned a franchise-best No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, tied franchise records for wins (18), home victories (11) and road wins (7) all set in McConnell-Serio's first season. In addition, Minnesota enjoyed a franchise record six-game winning streak.

AS A PLAYER WITH THE CLEVELAND ROCKERS (1998-2000)
McConnell-Serio was chosen in the second round (16th overall) of the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Cleveland Rockers and went on to earn Newcomer of the Year and All-WNBA First-Team honors in her first season in the league. She also won the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award twice (1998 & 2000) in her three seasons in the WNBA.

AS A COACH AT OAKLAND CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (1991-2003)
McConnell-Serio took the reins of the Oakland Catholic program in 1990-91 and won her first of three Class AAAA State Championships in 1993. In 13 years, McConnell-Serio averaged over 24 wins per season. She added additional state titles in 2001 & 2003 and runner-up finishes in 2000 & 2002. Nearly a dozen of her former players went on to earn NCAA Division I scholarships.

AS A PLAYER AT PENN STATE (1985-88)
In four seasons at PSU (1984-85 through 1987-88), McConnell-Serio helped the Nittany Lions to a 95-33 record and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. In the process, she was named the school's first First-Team All-American while setting NCAA Division I records for career assists (1,307), assists in a season (355 in 1987) and season assist average (11.8 in 1987). Her assist total and assist per game average led the nation in both 1986 & 1987.

AS A PLAYER AT SETON-LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL (1981-84)
A two-sport star and Parade All-American at Seton-La Salle high school, McConnell-Serio led the Lady Rebels to a 35-1 records and PIAA Championship her senior season. She led the Seton-LaSalle softball team the 1983 WPIAL Championship while hitting at a .500 clip.

AWARDS AND HONORS
McConnell-Serio was named to the USA Today All-Time Women's Basketball Team and was also named one of Sports Illustrated's Top 50 Pennsylvania Athletes of the Century. She was a member of the 10-person USA Basketball Executive Committee from 2001-04 and was inducted to the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. She was also the first Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year winner in 1999 and repeated the honor in 2010. The October 29, 2007 issue of Sports Illustrated listed McConnell-Serio as the best 5-4 basketball player, male or female, of all-time.

FAMILY
McConnell-Serio and her husband, Pete - who along with Suzie was born and raised in the Brookline area of Pittsburgh - are the parents of four children: Peter (21), Jordan (17), Mandy (15) and Madison (14).

Her brother Tom played two seasons at Davidson and was the head coach for Saint Francis, Pa. from 1992-99 and has been an assistant coach at Wake Forest, Marquette and Dayton as well as assistant women's coach at the University of Colorado with sister Kathy. He currently is an assistant women's coach at Old Dominion.

Her sister Kathy, who was her teammate on the 1984 PIAA Championship team, was the head coach at Tulsa (1999-05) and the University of Colorado (2006-10) before accepting her current position as an assistant coach with the WNBA's Tulsa Shock. She was also an assistant coach at the University of Illinois (1996-99) and Rutgers (1994-95). Her first coach job out of college was at the University of Pittsburgh as a recruiting coordinator during the 1991 season. Kathy played in four NCAA Championships while at the University of Virginia.

Her brother Tim played at Waynesburg and has served as the boy's coach at Chartiers Valley since 1992 and has won over 80 percent of his games while earning his 400th career win in 2010.

Her sister Maureen played at the University of Pittsburgh and her nephew T.J. (Tim's son) was on the Duquesne men's basketball team for two seasons (2011 and 2012) before transferring to Arizona.