 Berenato in 2009 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1956-12-09)December 9, 1956 (age 68) Gloucester City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1977 | North Carolina |
| 1978-1980 | Mount St. Mary's University |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1981 | Holy Cross HS[1] |
| 1982–1985 | Rider |
| 1987–1988 | Georgia Tech (assistant) |
| 1989–2003 | Georgia Tech |
| 2003–2013 | Pittsburgh |
| 2016–2021 | Kennesaw State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 454–433 (.512) |
Agnus Berenato (bornAgnus McGlade on December 9, 1956), is a former basketball coach. She was the headwomen's basketball coach atRider from 1982 to 1985,Georgia Tech from 1989 to 2003,Pittsburgh from 2003 to 2013, andKennesaw State from 2016 to 2021.[2] She is the all-time wins leader among women's basketball head coaches at the University of Pittsburgh.
Berenato is the eighth of ten children born to Peter and Theresa McGlade. Raised inGloucester City, New Jersey, she attendedGloucester Catholic High School, where she played on three state championship teams.[3] Berenato is the elder sister of former Georgia Tech Head Coach andAtlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette McGlade.
From 1982 to 1985, she served as the head women's basketball coach atRider.[4] During her time at Rider, she also coached Rider's women'svolleyball team posting a 66-51 record in four seasons.[5]
She has also been elected into theCamden County, Rider University, and Mount Saint Mary's University Sports Hall of Fames.
Prior to coming to Pittsburgh, she served as the head women's basketball coach for theGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets from 1989 to 2003, where she compiled a 223-209 record with appearances in the 1993 and 2003 NCAA Tournaments.[citation needed]
During her tenure at the University of Pittsburgh, thePanthers women's basketball enjoyed the most successful era in its history to date. She led Pitt to aWNIT final four in 2005 and the school's firstwomen's NCAA tournament appearance in2006. The Panthers concluded the season at 24-9, including a first round win overJames Madison.
During the 2007 season, Berenato led the Pitt women to its first win over an opponent ranked in the top 10, firstSweet Sixteen appearance, and first final ranking in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll (#16).[6][7] Success continued in 2009 as she led the Panthers to their second straight Sweet 16 appearance and broke a school record for victories. In 2010, she led Pitt to its fifth straight post-season appearance, a first round loss in the WNIT. With her 159th win at Pitt on December 20, 2012, Berenato broke the all-time record for wins among women's basketball head coaches at the university.[8] However, following back-to-back winless seasons in theBig East Conference in 2012 and 2013, the university announced on April 1, 2013 that she would not return to coach at the university.[9] Berenato finished with a 161-149 (.519) record in 10 seasons at Pitt.
While at Pitt, Berenato was a two timeDapper Dan Sportswomen of the Year, winning the honor in 2005 and 2007.
In 2017, Berenato traveled toGuyana andSuriname as a Sports Envoy for theU.S. State Department'sSports Diplomacy Office. During her visit, she conducted basketball clinics and programming related to youth empowerment. In so doing, Berenato helped contribute to Sports Diplomacy's mission to build understanding, awareness, and skills for youth from under-served communities.[10][11]