NIAGARA UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
EDISON, N.J. — Niagara women’s basketball head coach Jada Pierce will join the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), in conjunction with Basketball Ireland and Sports Changes Life, in Ireland this month, where women’s basketball clinics will be held as part of the ongoing efforts to promote women’s basketball overseas.
Joining Pierce in Ireland will be Marist head coach Brian Giorgis, Monmouth head coach Jody Craig, In addition to the coaches, MAAC Director of Women’s Basketball Operations, Alexis Wayne, and MAAC Assistant Commissioner of Championships, Dedra Palmer, will be traveling to five cities throughout Ireland during the week of May 13-20.
“It’s an honor to represent Niagara University and the MAAC in Ireland through its partnership with the Sport Changes Life Foundation,” said Pierce. “I’m looking forward to working with Coach Giorgis and Coach Craig teaching the game we love. We will continue to build off last year, providing a great experience for all the participants.”
The coaches will be hosting clinics for young players and coaches in the cities of Tralee, Galway, Letterkenny, Belfast, and Dublin. The women’s basketball coaching clinics are a beginning of a series of community outreach events to help promote women’s basketball in Ireland and also to raise awareness for the upcoming Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic being held this November and December.
“The MAAC is excited to again work with Sports Changes Life and Aer Lingus in sponsoring these coaches’ clinics,” noted MAAC Commissioner, Rich Ensor. “I want to thank the MAAC coaches for donating their time and energy to this effort. It is quite a group of coaches with some very talented leaders. They are all committed to providing young women with opportunities to succeed in academics and athletics.”
Secretary General of Basketball Ireland, Bernard O’Byrne stated, “We are delighted to see the MAAC Coaching Clinics return to Ireland once again this year. These clinics are a fantastic opportunity for coaches of all levels from around Ireland to gain valuable insights into the game from widely experienced head coaches. Last year’s clinics proved to be a huge success, and we do not doubt that this year’s events will be as successful.”
