Melissia Patterson, formerly the top assistant women's basketball coach at the University at Albany, has been selected the head women's basketball coach at Hamilton College.
Patterson will also serve as a visiting associate professor of physical education at Hamilton. She is the seventh head coach since the program achieved varsity status in 1978. Patterson replaces Sean Mackin, who has stepped away from the program due to personal reasons. Mackin guided the team to a 15-10 record and the semifinals of the Liberty League tournament last season.
"I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to be the head women's basketball coach at Hamilton College," Patterson said. "Being able to have the opportunity to lead this program and continue the level of success is truly an honor.
"I would like to thank (director of athletics) Jon Hind '80 and everyone at Hamilton College for making me feel welcome. I look forward to creating an exciting environment for our student-athletes."
At Division I Albany, Patterson was the recruiting coordinator and was responsible for scouting and coaching the guards from 2006 to 2010. She helped lead the Great Danes to a 10-6 record in the America East Conference in 2007-08. Albany won at least one game in the America East tournament three of her four years as an assistant. She recruited three players that made the conference's all-rookie team.
Patterson was a head coach at two schools before she arrived at Albany. She won 87 games at the College of Mount St. Joseph from 1998 to 2006. In 2002-03, the team tied a program record with 19 wins, won the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and made its first and only appearance in the NCAA Division III championships. She was a conference co-coach of the year selection after that season. She picked up her 100th career coaching victory during her last season at Mount St. Joseph.
Patterson was the head coach at Division II Cheyney University from 1996 to 1998. She began her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Cheyney. Patterson is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Black Coaches Association.
"We are thrilled to have Melissia Patterson join us," Hind said. "She brings a great deal of energy and experience to our program. Our student-athletes will benefit tremendously from her knowledge of and passion for the game of basketball."
Patterson played college basketball at the University of Louisville. She earned a bachelor's degree in urban studies from Louisville in 1988. She received a master's in education administration and supervision from Cheyney.
