Kate DeSorrento, who was Hamilton College's interim head women's basketball coach in 2011-12, will remain at Hamilton after the department of athletics recently conducted a national search for the head coaching position.
DeSorrento is the eighth women's basketball coach since the program's first varsity season in 1978-79. She guided the Continentals to eight wins last season, including a victory against NESCAC rival Middlebury College. Under DeSorrento, Hamilton ranked third in the conference in scoring defense with 52 points allowed per game. The team had no seniors on the roster and 10 players started at least one game.
"Over the last five months, I've fallen in love with the students and campus community at Hamilton, and I'm thankful to be coming back," DeSorrento said. "We're putting in place the necessary pieces to be successful and I'm excited about the opportunity to be a part of the program."
DeSorrento was an assistant coach at the University of Rochester from 2008 to 2011. She helped guide the Yellowjackets to a 68-18 record and three NCAA Division III championship appearances in three seasons. Rochester advanced to the national semifinals in 2010. She mentored 11 University Athletic Association all-conference honorees and a two-time honorable mention All-American.
"We're pleased with the direction Kate is taking our program," Hamilton's Director of Athletics Jon Hind '80 said. "She has a strong understanding of the athletic and academic balance that is necessary to be successful in our community. I'm excited about the future of our women's basketball program."
DeSorrento played at Union College from 2002 to 2005, which is one of the most successful three-year periods in program history. She helped Union to a 65-18 record and three Liberty League championship berths. The best season was 2003-04, when the Dutchwomen went 24-4, captured the league title and played in the NCAA championship for the first time in program history. She served as a student-assistant coach while recovering from health problems her senior year.
In high school at Catholic Central of Troy, N.Y., DeSorrento scored more than 1,400 points as a starting guard/forward and team captain from 2000 to 2002. She led the team to a Class AA state championship, two conference titles and a pair of Section II finals.
DeSorrento received a bachelor's degree in neuroscience with a history minor from Union in 2006. She will complete her master's in public health from the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry in spring 2012.
