Mary Hegarty - Women's Basketball Coach - Long Beach State University Athletics

Mary Hegarty

Title:
Head Coach

Mary Hegarty enters her sixth season with Long Beach State following five seasons which have included a second-place finish in 2004-05 and a co-conference championship in 2005-06, earning her Big West Coach of the Year honors. In her third season at The Beach in 2005-06, Hegarty guided the 49ers to 18 wins, the first share of the Big West Championship since 1990-1991.

Long Beach State statistically led the Big West in seven categories, including field goal percentage defense and scoring defense. Nationally, in field goal percentage defense, and with their success in league play, the 49ers tied a school-record with five all-conference selections senior guard Crystal McCutcheon was chosen as the Conference Player of the Year. Also during the same year, Hegarty reached a significant milestone when she won her 200th career game vs. South Dakota State on Dec. 30, 2005.

In 13 seasons as a head coach Hegarty has gone 229-170 (.574), and has the second-most career wins among any coach in the Big West. Additionally, with Hegarty at the helm, Long Beach State has defeated two Top-25 opponents, toppling USC and Houston in games at the Walter Pyramid. Overall, Hegarty owns a 69-78 record at the Beach, finishing at second in the conference twice. Off the court success characterizes the team under Hegarty as well. Last spring, the 49ers had 14 Academic All-Stars (3.0 or better), 7 members of the Dean's List (3.5 or better) and 6 President's List Members (3.75 or better). Junior guard Lauren Sims was named to the Academic All-District team with a 4.00 GPA, and the team GPA was the highest in the history of the program. In just her second season at The Beach (2004-05), Hegarty guided the 49ers to 19 wins and second place in the Big West Conference. Under Hegarty, Long Beach State posted its best winning percentage (.679) since the 1999-2000 season, and the 13 wins in conference were the most since the 1991-92 campaign. With their success in Big West play, the 49ers garnered a school-record five all-conference selections. Three players went on to try out with WNBA teams after the season as well. Statistically under Hegarty, the 49ers led the Big West in defense, three-point field goals, and assists.

Prior to Long Beach State, Hegarty produced nine consecutive winning seasons at NCAA Division III Chapman, turning a program that went 2-23 prior to the season she arrived into a perennial NCAA participant as an independent, going 160-92 (.635). The Panthers also consistently ranked in the Top 25. Hegarty left the school as the all-time leader in career wins with 160. During her 10-year stint, Hegarty produced five All-West Region players and one National Player of the Year candidate. Chapman also did well off the court, earning six academic all-district awards and being ranked in the WBCA Academic Top-25.

Prior to Chapman, Hegarty previously served as an assistant at UCLA (1984-85, 1989-93), UC Santa Barbara (1985-87) and Humboldt State (1987-89). While at her alma mater, the Bruins advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including the Sweet 16. From 1989 to 1993 she was in charge of guard development, with one of those guards being current assistant Nicole Anderson. As a collegian, Hegarty, along with current assistants Denise Curry and Nicole Anderson, were named three of the 15 Greatest Players in UCLA Women[apos]s Basketball history on February 21, 1998. Hegarty still holds UCLA's single-season record for assists (240), set as a freshman in 1980-81, and finished her career second all-time at UCLA in assists (528) and third in steals (215). The 240 assists in 1980-81 led the Western Collegiate Athletic Association. UCLA advanced to two National Tournaments, the AIAW playoffs in 1981 and the NCAA's in 1983. Hegarty led the team in free throw shooting her last three seasons. She also earned Freshman All-America honors in 1981 and was the team's captain in 1982-83 and 1983-84. Curry and Hegarty played together during the 1980-81 season. Hegarty was also a starter for the Olympic Sports Festival West team in 1981. Off the court, she was named an honorable mention Academic All-American in 1982 and placed herself on the Dean's List in 1980-81 and 1981-82. As a player and coach, Hegarty has advanced to seven NCAA tournaments with two Sweet 16 finishes.

Hegarty received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UCLA in 1985 and her Master's in Physical Education from Humboldt State in 1989. She resides in Long Beach.