Patrick Knapp has added another member to the women's basketball coaching staff, hiring former University of Richmond standout Michele Koclanes.
The New Rochelle, N.Y., native grew up in Pelham, N.Y., before becoming a four-year starting point guard and three-year captain with the Spiders from 1998 to 2002.
Standing just 5 feet tall, Koclanes nevertheless made a name for herself during her time at Richmond. She still owns the Spiders' all-time record for assists with 793. This also ranks her 20th all-time in Division I women's basketball for career assists.
But Koclanes was known for more than simply assists. She was known as a scrappy player who didn't let her height stand in the way of becoming a great player.
She also had a knack for hitting the clutch shot. In one memorable game from 2002, while on the road against Dayton, Koclanes hit an off-balance jumper in the lane with five seconds left to give the Spiders an 89-87 win. Koclanes finished the game with 16 points and 14 assists.
Among the accolades Koclanes received during her collegiate career were a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association selection in 2000-01 and a third-team All-Atlantic-10 honor in 2001-02. She was also a 2001-02 All-America honoree as well as a 2002 Naismith Award candidate.
Koclanes played professionally in Greece and Bulgaria following her graduation from Richmond in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in leadership studies.
Hopefully her B.A., as well as the master's degree in speech and interpersonal communication that she received from New York University last May will help her make a difference at the Palestra this season.
One player that should find Koclanes' advice helpful is sophomore guard Joey Rhoads. Like Koclanes, Rhoads is a talented but diminutive player who can shoot as well as pass.
With the graduation of Jewel Clark and Mikaelyn Austin, the Quakers need someone to step into those shoes. And a coach like Koclanes may be just the person to take Rhoads' game to the next level.
Koclanes comes to Penn from Columbia, where she spent the last year as the director of basketball operations for the Lions.
