The University of Pittsburgh has ushered in a new era for its women's basketball program by naming Robin Harmony as its 11th head coach. Harmony, hailing from Hershey, Pennsylvania, is fresh off a remarkable season with Charleston, where she led the team to a historic 27-6 record and their inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance.
Pitt's athletic director, Allen Greene, expressed enthusiasm about the new hire, emphasizing Harmony's knack for building strong connections with student-athletes and the broader community. "Coach Harmony's athlete-centered approach is exactly what we need to foster both personal and athletic growth," Greene noted.
Harmony's track record speaks volumes. Over her seven seasons at Charleston, she became the school's all-time wins leader, boasting a 122-81 record.
Her leadership propelled the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament for the first time, though they fell to Duke with a final score of 81-64. Charleston's impressive 74-24 record over the past three seasons also includes two WNIT appearances.
Before her success at Charleston, Harmony coached at Division II St. Thomas in Florida from 2007 to 2013, leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Her subsequent stint at Lamar in the Southland Conference saw her teams clinch three regular-season titles and make three WNIT appearances, despite the challenge of the one-bid league.
With 19 years of head coaching experience, Harmony brings a wealth of knowledge and a 369-198 (.651) career record to Pitt. Her resume includes 11 seasons with 20 or more wins and eight conference regular-season titles.
Harmony expressed her excitement about joining Pitt, acknowledging the trust placed in her by Athletic Director Allen Greene and Jen Tuscano. She is eager to recruit top-tier student-athletes to a university known for its academic and athletic excellence. "I promise to build a team that embodies the grit and determination of both the University and the City of Pittsburgh," Harmony stated.
Returning to her Pennsylvania roots, Harmony, a University of Miami alumna, is thrilled to lead her first power-conference team. "Coaching in the Petersen Events Center is a dream come true," she said, calling for support from alumni, the Oakland Zoo, and Pitt fans as she aims to elevate the program.
Harmony steps in following Tory Verdi's tenure, which saw the Panthers struggle with an 8-46 record in ACC play over three seasons. Pitt's women's basketball program has had limited success historically, with just four NCAA Tournament appearances, the last being in 2015. Harmony will be formally introduced at a press conference at the Petersen Events Center this Friday, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Pitt women's basketball.