NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona University women's basketball head coach Billi Chambers announced her resignation on Wednesday to accept the head coaching position at Xavier University. Chambers led Iona to its second MAAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in her 10th season in 2022-23.
"Coach Chambers guided our program to new heights during her tenure, bringing home a pair of MAAC Championships, the first in school history. We are incredibly grateful to Coach Chambers for her leadership and dedication to our program and all she has done to elevate Iona women's basketball to where it is now," Director of Athletics Matthew Glovaski said. "We wish Coach Chambers the very best in this exciting new chapter as she moves on to a well-deserved opportunity in the Big East."
"Moving on from Iona to Xavier is such a bittersweet moment for me. For the past 10 years, this has been my home. I have had the opportunity, as a first time head coach to experience incredible seasons, grow through challenges and to reinvent this program, attaining unprecedented success both on and off the court. I am immensely grateful to Dr. Joseph Nyre, Rick Cole, Dr. Seamus Carey and Matt Glovaski for their support and guidance during my time here," Chambers said. "I have been so fortunate to lead some amazing young women and I am thankful for every single moment that I was able to share with each one of them. They have made this journey incredibly special and they will forever be my family. I wish for continued success for all of Gael Nation. Once a Gael, Always a Gael."
Chambers is the most decorated coach in Iona women's basketball history, winning the only two MAAC titles in program history, two MAAC Regular Season Championships, two MAAC Coach of the Year awards and leading the Gaels to three 20-win seasons during her tenure. In her 10 seasons at the helm of the Maroon & Gold Chambers compiled a 141-153 overall record and a 102-85 mark in league play.
Chambers' 102 conference wins are the most in program history and she is one of 10 coaches to win 100+ MAAC games in league history. Her 141 overall wins are tied for the second-most in Iona history. Chambers has twice led Iona to 26-overall and 18-conference win seasons (2013-14 and 2022-23), the best single-season win totals in program history.
A national search has begun to identify a replacement.
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