Born: 1958
Biography:
Nancy Fahey (born November 3, 1958) is an American retired head women’s basketball coach. She made a significant impact on the sport, coaching at both the University of Illinois and Washington University in St. Louis. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Fahey played college basketball and developed a deep passion for the game.
Fahey began her coaching career shortly after graduating from Wisconsin. In 1982, she was hired as the girls’ basketball coach at Johnsburg High School. During her tenure, she achieved remarkable success, leading the Lady Skyhawks to 20-win seasons and regional championships in her final two years. Fahey’s dedication and strategic coaching abilities caught the attention of many in the basketball world.
In 1986, Fahey embarked on a new chapter in her coaching career when she was named the head women’s basketball coach at Washington University. She got off to an impressive start, recording a 16-5 record in her first season. As the program joined the newly-created University Athletic Association in the following year, Fahey’s coaching prowess shone through, leading the team to three consecutive UAA championships and seven out of the first eight. These accomplishments came hand in hand with seven NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament appearances.
In 1991, despite finishing second in the UAA, Fahey guided her team to their first deep NCAA Tournament run, ultimately finishing in fourth place. Three years later, in 1994, the Bears made an even more remarkable run to the championship game, though they fell short and lost to Capital University.
Fahey’s coaching career reached its pinnacle between 1997 and 2001, in a period that will forever be remembered as the Golden Era of Washington University women’s basketball. The 1997-98 season marked a turning point as the team went 28-2 and secured their first national championship by defeating Southern Maine 77-69. The following season, they achieved an incredible undefeated 30-0 season, winning the national championship over Saint Benedict 74-65. Continuing their dominance, the Bears went undefeated for a third consecutive year in 1999-2000, winning another national championship, this time against Southern Maine with a score of 79-33.
In the 2000-01 season, Fahey’s exceptional coaching skills led the team to their fourth consecutive national championship. Despite not achieving an undefeated season, the Bears finished with a 28-2 record and emerged victorious over Messiah College by a score of 67-45.
Under Fahey’s leadership, the Bears’ success extended beyond the national stage. They won the UAA conference every year from 1997-98 to 2006-07, adding to their remarkable list of accomplishments. In 2007, Washington University reached the national championship game for the second time in their history but lost to DePauw with a close score of 55-52. Although the 2007-08 season was a minor setback, with the Bears winning 19 games, they quickly rebounded the following year with a 26-5 record, only to fall short once again in the national championship game to George Fox University with a score of 60-53.
The 2009-10 season proved to be another highlight for Fahey’s coaching career. The Bears made their fifth national championship run, finishing with an impressive 29-2 record. In the championship game, they defeated Hope College by a score of 65-59, earning Fahey and her team another national title. The following year, despite finishing second in the UAA, Washington University reached the national championship game for the third consecutive year. Unfortunately, they faced defeat at the hands of Amherst with a score of 64-55.
Throughout her career, Nancy Fahey made an indelible mark on women’s basketball. Her dedication, leadership, and strategic acumen guided Washington University to unprecedented success, making her one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of the sport.
Awards:
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012