Joe Appel
Suzie McConnell-Serio
’88 B.S. Elementary and Kindergarten Education
Head Coach, Women’s Basketball University of Pittsburgh Suzie is that rare athlete that has enjoyed nearly as much success on the sideline as she did on the court. After starring for the Lady Lions while pursuing her elementary and kindergarten education degree—and establishing several NCAA Division I records that still stand today—she enjoyed a robust post-collegiate playing career. She contributed to two Olympic teams from her point guard position, winning gold and bronze medals. She also played three decorated seasons for the WNBA’s Cleveland Rockers. As a coach, Suzie returned to her Pittsburgh roots from 1990 to 2003 at Oakland Catholic High School. Under her tutelage, Oakland Catholic won three state championships and was runnerup twice. From 2003-06, Suzie coached the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx where she won the 2004 WNBA Coach of the Year honor. For the next six years Suzie served as head coach at Duquesne University, leading the Dukes to the postseason in her last five seasons. In April, she accepted her current position at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2008, Suzie was elected to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Alumni Feature
“I haven’t been in a classroom, per se, for a long time. But going through the education program prepared me to teach every day, whether it’s high school, college, or the WNBA. I am a teacher, a teacher of the game. I teach, as most coaches do, beyond the classroom. In that role I am utilizing my degree. On the court, I am interacting with my team; that’s a classroom. At Penn State, one of the most miserable teaching experiences I had turned out to be one of my most helpful. I had to teach a song to my peers, and I can’t carry a tune to save my life. It wasn’t my most pleasant memory, but it really helped me in developing confidence in public speaking. Getting up in front of my peers to teach lessons has helped me in what I’m doing now.”