Pitt hires Robin Harmony after Women's NCAA Tournament run with Charleston

Fresh off guiding the College of Charleston to its first ever appearance in the Women’s NCAA Tournament , Robin Harmony is taking on a new challenge. Pitt is hiring Harmony as its next women’s basketball coach, the Panthers announced Monday, March 23. Harmony will attempt to revive a program that hasn’t had a winning record in ACC play since 2015, which was also the last time it participated in March Madness.

Harmony replaces Tory Verdi, who was fired after three seasons in which he accumulated an overall record of 29-66 and was recently sued by six former Pitt players in the U. S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania, alleging that he inflicted "emotional, psychological, and physical abuse" against the players and that he created a "hostile, discriminatory, and retaliatory environment.

" For Harmony, being hired at Pitt is a return to the conference where she was an all-time great player. In 2013, she was named an ACC Legend to acknowledge the career she had with the Miami Hurricanes. Harmony still ranks top 10 all-time in points and rebounds at Miami and owns the single-game assist record.

She’ll coach against the Hurricanes at least once a year in the ACC. Three people familiar with Pitt’s search told USA TODAY Sports that the Panthers’ initial top target was Glenn Box, the coach of Miami Ohio, but he received a contract extension through 2032 after guiding the RedHawks to the NCAA Tournament. Other candidates that Pitt athletic director Allen Greene explored included Cleveland State head coach Chris Kielsmeier and Penn’s Mike McLaughlin.