Kelly Greenberg
Kelly Greenberg (born May 5, 1967) was the Boston University Women's Basketball Head Coach (2004 – 2014) until she resigned in 2014 amid charges of abusing players. Allegations that she mistreated players first surfaced in 2007 when the coach admitted she made some serious mistakes that she deeply regretted. When four players left the team and gave up their $60,000 per year scholarships in 2014, an internal investigation concluded that "the manner in which Coach Greenberg interacted with many of her players was incompatible with the expectations and standards for university employees, including our coaches."
Throughout her career, Greenberg's teams have claimed seven regular-season conference titles and seven conference tournament crowns. She has reached the NCAA tournament seven times as a coach, including twice during her five-year stint at Penn. Since 1993, all but one of her teams have either finished the regular-season in the top two spots in the league or have reached the conference title game.
Athlete
Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster, Pennsylvania
During her scholastic career, Greenberg played basketball, field hockey and softball at Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia. Recently, she had her No. 32 jersey retired joining just three other female athletes, Debbie Black of the WNBA, Kelly's sister, Kathy May and Joanne Healy. Kelly is a member of the high school's alumni hall of fame.
LaSalle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Greenberg was a two-time second-team All-Big 5 selection at La Salle University, leading the Explorers to three consecutive Big 5 Championships and NCAA tournaments. She captained the 1988-89 team to a 28-3 overall record, a national ranking, and a third straight trip to the NCAA tournament. Greenberg graduated in 1989 with a bachelor of arts in English.
Coaching career
1989-1990
Kelly Greenberg began her coaching career at Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts in 1989-90.
1990-1991
Greenberg was a volunteer assistant coach at George Washington University in 1990-91. During her tenure at George Washington, the Colonials reached the NCAA tournament, Greenberg's first trip as a coach.
1991-1992
Greenberg was an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island during the 1991-92 season
1992-1999
Greenberg spent seven seasons on the women's basketball staff at the College of the Holy Cross. During her final three seasons, Greenberg served as the associate head coach under head coach Bill Gibbons. During her tenure, the Crusaders made four trips to the NCAA tournament and won six Patriot League titles.
1999-2004
In her first season as a head coach in 1999-00, Greenberg's squad posted its first winning season in eight years. She was named the Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year.
The following season, she guided the Quakers to an Ivy League title as the team went a perfect 14-0 in league games. The team earned the program's first-ever NCAA tournament bid and posted a school-best 22-6 overall record. During the season, the team won a program-record 21 consecutive games, which ranked as the longest active winning streak in the nation at the time. Following the record-breaking season, Greenberg was honored as the Daily Pennsylvanian Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
In 2003-04, Greenberg led the team back to the NCAA tournament as Penn recorded a 17-10 overall mark and an 11-3 record in Ivy League play.
After guiding the University of Pennsylvania to two Ivy League championships during her five-year tenure, Greenberg, a 19-year coaching veteran at the Division I level, was appointed head coach of the BU women's basketball program on July 7, 2004,
2004-present
In her fifth season as head coach of the Boston University women's basketball program, head coach Kelly Greenberg has successfully taken the Terriers to the America East Championship title game in three of the last four campaigns.
In her first season as head coach at BU, Greenberg's squad posted a 15-16 overall record during the America East tournament. Entering the tournament as the eighth-seeded team, BU knocked off top-seeded Maine, fourth-seeded Vermont and ninth-seeded Stony Brook becoming the first eighth-seeded team in the tournament's 14-year history to reach the title game. In the finals, BU lost 52-50 to second-seeded Hartford
In 2005-06, Greenberg led her Terrier team to an 18-12 record and an appearance in the America East title game following an 76-74 overtime victory over second-seeded Stony Brook in the semifinal round.
The 2006-07 season included a non-conference schedule that featured three nationally ranked opponents as well as Katie Meinhardt's senior campaign. Meinhardt finished her career with 1,204 career points which ranks seventh in BU program history.
In 2007-08, the Terriers finished with a 20-12 overall record and 11-5 conference record including a perfect 11-0 record at Case Gymnasium and an 11-1 record at home, with the loss coming to then-No. 16 Ohio State at Agganis Arena. Greenberg's squad broke a school record for points in a season (2,220) and breaking a program mark for free-throw percentage (.769).
In 2008, the Terriers made it to the conference finals with Hartford. The season included a double-overtime victory against rival Vermont in the semifinals as well as achieving 20 wins for the first time in 20 years, and only the second time in program history.
Several players leave team and scholarships amid disputes over coaching style
Several former Terrier players describe Greenberg's style as confrontational. Twice, in 2008 http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2008/04/17/basketball-players-allege-cruel-treatment-from-women-coach-kelly-greenberg/L5iJADWEDAWe8k7449DPbM/story.html and 2014 http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/03/08/women-basketball-coach-accused-bullying/TtKz57Gs9qXbvk1SBtIpuM/story.html?p1=Well_BG_Links, the Boston Globe's Bob Hohler reported on the departures of players who claim they were bullied by the coach.
Resignation:
Coach Kelly and Boston University parted ways on April 22, 2014, amid allegations of player emotional abuse. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/04/22/boston-university-women-basketball-coach-leaving-after-allegations-emotional-abuse/2z7A50mrw7Rx0yNIVsVRKJ/story.html
Articles on the Web
- Quotes and Quotations (updated regularly)
- BOSTON UNIVERSITY NAMES KELLY GREENBERG HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH July 7 2004
- Boston University Head Coach Kelly Greenberg Signs Contract Extension Through 2013-14 Season March 30, 2009
- No Points For Style At BU "April 18, 2008"
Kelly Greenberg out as BU coach - ESPN.com - Go.com espn.go.com/...basketball/.../boston-university-terriers-part-ways-coach-kell... Apr 23, 2014 - Boston University and head women's basketball coach Kelly Greenberg have parted ways.
Two distinct portraits of Greenberg - ESPN.com espn.go.com/.../espnw-player-accounts-paint-two-distinct-portraits-boston-... Mar 27, 2014 - Kristen Sims, a former Boston University women's basketball player, remembers how head coach Kelly Greenberg supported her ...
Good coaches tough, not abusive ESPN - 6 days ago By Kate Fagan | Apr 29, 2014 ... this language is why so many people seem to believe that coaches walk a fine line between tough love and emotional bullying, ...
External links
- Official website
- Boston University Women's Basketball club
- http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/04/22/boston-university-women-basketball-coach-leaving-after-allegations-emotional-abuse/2z7A50mrw7Rx0yNIVsVRKJ/story.html