Home CollegeIllini Nancy Fahey Announces Retirement After 36 Years on the Sidelines

Nancy Fahey Announces Retirement After 36 Years on the Sidelines

by Press Release

Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame coach Nancy Fahey announced her retirement from coaching Friday after a storied career that featured five NCAA Division III national championships.

“I first met Nancy in the spring of 2014, and I have been proud to work alongside her for seven seasons at two different institutions,” said Director of Athletics Josh Whitman. “Her competitive fire is matched only by the standard of excellence she has set for herself and those around her – a combination that has produced one of the most decorated coaching careers in the history of college basketball. Although we were not able to win as many games at Illinois as any of us had hoped, I will always be grateful to Nancy for providing a steady, experienced hand at a time when our program needed stability and integrity. Her leadership during a tumultuous period in our history, both upon her arrival and, more recently, throughout the pandemic, will forever be remembered and is much appreciated. I have tremendous respect and affection for Nancy and hope she will stay connected with this program long into the future.”

During her 36 years on the sidelines, Fahey’s teams posted 779 victories, a total that ranks among the top 20 all-time in the NCAA record books, seventh among current NCAA Division I head coaches and ninth among all active NCAA head coaches. Of head coaches with more than 700 victories who are active this season, Fahey’s .771 winning percentage ranks third only to Geno Auriemma (.886) and Tara VanDeveer (.815).

Fahey finishes her career with an all-time record of 779-232, including 23 conference championships, 29 NCAA tournament appearances and five national titles. During Fahey’s legendary run at Washington University, her teams made the NCAA Tournament 29 out of 31 seasons and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen or further 15 times and the Final Four 10 times. From 1998-2001, Fahey’s teams won four consecutive national championships while compiling a record of 118-4. Her 31-season career record at WashU was 737-133 (.847).

Fahey hs been honored with membership in numerous halls of fame. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2012, the WashU Sports Hall of Fame in 2011, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2014, the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, and the Missouri Coaches Hall of Fame in 2020. She was a 20-time University Athletic Association Coach of the Year, a 14-time NCAA Division III Central Region Coach of the Year, a four-time NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year and a two-time WBCA National Division III Coach of the Year.

“I want to thank all the coaches and staff members I’ve worked with for the past 40 years, from Johnsburg High School and Washington University to the University of Illinois,” Fahey said. “A special thanks to all my players who will always have a special place in my heart. I wish Illinois women’s basketball the very best in the future. I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”

In Fahey’s five seasons in Champaign-Urbana, the Illini compiled a record of 42-99, with nine wins against Big Ten teams.

A national search will begin immediately to identify Coach Fahey’s successor.

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