Assistant women’s basketball coach Cathy Inglese remembered for dedication to life and coaching

Cathy Inglese played an active role in her community as an educator, mentor, friend and basketball coach.

Catherine “Cathy” Inglese, the associate head coach of Hofstra’s women’s basketball, passed away this past summer on Wednesday, July 24. She was 60 years old.

“Cathy was one of the kindest and nicest people I have come to know in the coaching industry,” said Hofstra women’s basketball head coach Danielle Santos Atkinson. “Our entire program and the Hofstra family are heartbroken.”

Inglese was fondly described as a “true New Englander” by those who knew her and spent her active life coaching and teaching in every New England state except Maine. 

The New Haven Register described Inglese as a coach, educator, mentor and friend to all who knew her. She graduated magna cum laude from Southern Connecticut State University in 1980, before going on to receive her master’s degree in education from the University of New Hampshire in 1987. “She was an avid fitness enthusiast – she rarely missed a day of running or swimming,” The Register said of Inglese. “Her humility and concern for others was extraordinary.” 

She began her coaching career in high school basketball while also teaching in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Inglese spent much of her adult life as a collegiate coach and started off as the assistant basketball coach at the University of New Hampshire. She began her head collegiate coaching career at age 27 at the University of Vermont (UVM), where she stayed from 1986 to 1993. At UVM, she coached her team to the NCAA Tournament on an undefeated regular season two times. Inglese then took her skills to Boston College for 15 years before moving on to be the head coach at the University of Rhode Island. Eventually, Inglese took an assistant coaching position at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Most recently, she had been the active assistant coach at Hofstra for the women’s basketball team. 

Rick Cole, Jr., Hofstra’s director of athletics, recognized Inglese’s long tenure of college coaching, though her time at Hofstra was short. “Although part of our family for a short time, she had already left a tremendous impact. Her mark on the world of college athletics is immense.”

Inglese was also inducted into several halls of fame during her coaching tenure, including Southern Connecticut State University, UVM, Boston College and Sheehan High School in Wallingford, Connecticut, where she grew up. 

“Cathy lived a wonderful life. I am honored to have called her a friend, colleague, co-worker and mentor,” said Santos Atkinson. “Her memory will continue to influence our program every day we step on the court.”

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church in Branford, Connecticut on Saturday, Aug. 3.

Inglese is survived by her mother and four siblings, Vincent, Nancy, Beth and Steven.