Kate DeSorrento, formerly the top assistant women's basketball coach at the University of Rochester since 2008, has been named head coach at Hamilton College.
DeSorrento is the eighth women's basketball coach since the program's first varsity season in 1978-79. She replaces Melissia Patterson, who resigned in early October due to personal reasons after one season.
"I'm thrilled to start my head coaching career at one of the nation's elite academic institutions," DeSorrento said. "I'm looking forward to working with the young women of Hamilton as we try to build something special on and off the basketball court."
At Rochester, DeSorrento 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 are thrilled to have Kate join us," Hamilton's Director of Athletics Jon Hind '80 said. "She has great passion and energy for both academics and athletics. I am confident her experiences as a student-athlete and a coach at strong academic institutions will serve her well."
DeSorrento played at Union College from 2002 to 2005, and was a starting guard and team captain for the Dutchwomen. 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.
DeSorrento did not play her senior year due to health problems, and instead served as a student-assistant coach. Union played in the 2006 Liberty League championship semifinals and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Upstate title game with DeSorrento on the bench.
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.
