Perry Returns to Alma Mater, Joins Women?s Basketball Coaching Staff
7/19/2007 4:28:00 AM | Women's Basketball
STATESBORO, Ga. ? Mary Perry, a former four-year guard at Georgia Southern, has been named assistant women's basketball coach, it was announced today (July 19) by 11-year head coach Rusty Cram.
In addition to on-court, guard coaching responsibilities, Perry will also be in charge of the team's scouting system, recruiting, travel arrangements, conditioning and other administrative duties.
Perry, a Georgia Southern graduate, joins the Eagle staff after a successful two-year position at USC Aiken. Perry helped guide the Pacers to a 33-26 record from 2005-2007, including last year's 20-win campaign that led to the program's first Peach Belt Conference North Division title in five years. In addition to her coaching duties, Perry was responsible for the team's recruiting efforts, academics and community outreach programs.
Perry spent four years at Seton Hall as an assistant under head coach Phyllis Mangina that saw the Pirates earn WNIT births in 2003 and 2004. Before SHU, Perry served a one-year coaching stint at Adams State College.
A two-sport student-athlete, Perry was a four-year letter winner for the Georgia Southern women's basketball team from 1995-1999, and played goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, earning three letters (1996-97, 1999). On the hardwood, Perry helped lead GSU to the Southern Conference tournament finals in 1997, its first finals appearance since 1994. In 1998 the Lady Eagles were the SoCon regular season champions and returned to the conference tournament finals. On the soccer field, Perry earned 2nd team All-Conference honors in 1997.
Perry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from GSU (2000). The Charleston, S.C. native is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
“Mary will add vitality and new flavor to the program,” said Cram. “Having coached at Seton Hall, where she saw a lot of good, quality basketball, she'll bring new ideas. Some of the areas that we want to move into as a program, she is already experienced in those areas. As a former player, she knows GSU and she knows our system. She has a love for the school and she knows the quality of the program and the school.”
