By Erika Carrubba
Women’s basketball head coach Willette White spent the off-season trying to remodel her team in hopes of turning around last season’s 14-15 record. But instead of retooling her roster, White took a different approach and rebuilt her coaching staff.
On Aug. 29, White announced the addition of assistant coach Todd Goclowski one month after assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Mary Helen Walker joined the staff.
“This was a tremendous opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Goclowski said. “Northeastern athletics are on the move and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute.”
Goclowski comes to Northeastern after a two-year stint as assistant women’s basketball coach at Brandeis University. At Brandeis he specialized in defense, helping the team achieve top defensive ranking in the University Athletic Association both seasons he was there. However, he hasn’t narrowed down his duties at Northeastern yet.
“We haven’t worked out specific roles yet. We have a dynamic coaching staff and as an assistant I will get to work in all areas of the team,” he said.
The Brandeis staff was named University Athletic Association Coaching Staff of the Year last season as the team posted a 23-4 record, the best in school history.
“Brandeis was an amazing experience that fit perfectly at the time but I was ready for a new opportunity. It seemed like a good time, to take on the new opportunity at Northeastern,” Goclowski said.
Goclowski was previously the head women’s basketball coach at Curry College, where his teams went 39-13 (.750) during his tenure. He set school records for consecutive wins (12) and led the Colonels to their best season in history with a 22-4 record. Goclowski was named the Commonwealth Coast Conference Head Coach of the Year in 2002-03.
Walker, who was previously the head coach at Loyola University in Chicago for six years, brings experience to the post.
“I love the east coast and I was excited to work with Coach White and this program that has a lot of potential,” Walker said.
Prior to Walker’s tenure, Loyola had only played in one postseason game in the school’s history. Walker led the Ramblers to three consecutive Horizon League Tournament semifinal appearances from 2001-2003. Her Division I experience will be put to use as the Huskies enter their first season in the Colonial Athletic Association.
“I want the transition into the CAA to be smooth,” Walker said. “We can be the CAA sleeper team.”
Walker served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Providence College for three years prior to Loyola. She began her coaching career at Kent State as a graduate assistant before taking her first head coaching job at Visitation, a high school in St. Louis, Mo.
The Huskies debut their new coaching staff at the season opener at Solomon Court against Holy Cross, Nov. 18.
