Hours after a 5-26 season came to a close with a 90-65 loss at Syracuse, Boston College announced that women’s basketball coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee will not receive a contract extension.
During eight seasons at Chestnut Hill, Bernabei-McNamee finished 113-132, and 43-94 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Tying for last in the 18-team ACC at 1-17, this season, the Eagles were one of three teams to miss the conference tournament along with SMU and Pittsburgh.
This season’s .161 winning percentage is the worst in program history, and the five victories matched the 1991-92 team for the most in a full season.
“I want to thank Joanna for her contributions to the Boston College women’s basketball program during her eight years as an Eagle, as she had a tremendous impact on so many young women who have gone on to do great things,” BC athletic director Blake James said in a statement. “It is simply time for a change and we wish Joanna and her family the very best in the future.”
This season included a 20-game losing streak that started on Nov. 28 and didn’t end until defeating SMU on Feb. 19, which was the Eagles’ lone ACC and road victory. Boston College was outscored by 12.7 points per game, that number ballooning to 21.6 against conference foes.
Bernabei-McNamee was hired in April 2018 after two strong seasons at UAlbany, and won ACC coach of the year in 2019-20, when BC went 20-11 and won a pair of games in the conference tournament. The Eagles went 21-12 in 2021-22, reaching the Sweet 16 of the Women’s NIT.
The Eagles have not reached the NCAA Tournament since a Sweet 16 run in 2006, the team’s first season in the ACC, under Cathy Inglese.
Keith Pearson can be reached at keith.pearson@globe.com.
