Shea Ralph - Coaching Career

Coaching Career

After finishing her college playing career and reaching the conclusion she would not be able to continue as a professional, Ralph joined the Hartford, Connecticut school system in 2002 to implement a "strength and conditioning program at the high school and middle school levels". She also planned to work on a "disease education and prevention program, focusing on diabetes". The position was not without controversy. Some felt that the salary paid was out of line with her education credentials.

However, Ralph decided to get back into basketball and joined the University of Pittsburgh the following year. The transition to a school without the winning tradition of UConn was difficult. After playing in only ten losing games in her four-year career, she joined a team that had a streak of eleven losses in eleven games heading into their final season game, which they also lost. Tensions mounted, and after strong words to some of the players, one left, leaving the team short-handed for a scrimmage. Ralph, despite five ACL surgeries, filled in and helped lead by example. The experience convinced her that she wanted to become a head coach, but she recognized she had a lot to learn. "I've learned how to take losing." she said, "That's about it."

Ralph remained at Pittsburgh for five years, helping to turn a team with a losing record into a nationally ranked team. When Tonya Cardoza left UConn to take the head coaching position at Temple University, the school needed a new assistant. Head coach Geno Auriemma called the head coach at Pittsburgh, Agnus Berenato, for permission to talk to Ralph. Berenato knew exactly why he had called and responded, "I hope you don't get what you are calling for." However, he did, and Ralph became an assistant at UConn in 2008.