Bucknell assistant takes CNU job

More news about: Christopher Newport
Bill Broderick will be Christopher Newport's eighth coach in 40 years, but its third coach in three years.

Christopher Newport athletic director C.J. Woollum announced Bill Broderick has been named CNU’s new head women’s basketball coach. Broderick, assistant coach for Division I Elon and Bucknell over the last four seasons, becomes the eighth women’s basketball coach in the 40-year history of the program.

He replaces Jon Waters, who served as interim head coach this season after the abrupt resignation of Carolyn Hunter last September. Hunter had won 265 games at CNU.

"We are very excited about our new women's coach, Bill Broderick,” Woollum said. “His experience is widespread and we feel strongly he is the absolute right person for the job.”

CNU was 22-6 this past season.

Broderick comes to CNU from Bucknell, where he served as assistant coach for two seasons. Prior to his time with the Bison, Broderick was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach under CNU alumna Karen Barefoot at Elon. He recruited back-to-back Southern Conference Freshman of the Year awardees and coordinated the No. 1 recruiting class in the conference in 2009-10.

"I am humbled, excited and very proud to be the newest addition to the Christopher Newport University athletic department family and the campus community," Broderick said. "I would like to thank Senator Trible, director of athletics C.J. Woollum, senior associate director of athletics Jon Waters and senior woman administrator Carrie Gardner, as well as the entire search committee for putting their trust in me as the next head women's basketball coach."
 
Broderick’s 21-year coaching resume includes experience at nearly every level of competition, including 12 years as an NCAA Division I assistant coach. He was an assistant at the University of Arizona from 1995-98, winning the 1996 WNIT championship and reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1998. He was also associate head coach at Pittsburgh where he assisted in the biggest turnaround in program history. Prior to his stint at Elon, Broderick was head coach at George Mason High School in Falls Church, Va., guiding his team to the state semifinals and earning region Coach of the Year honors in 2007-08.
 
“As a native Virginian, Bill knows the state and his recruiting knowledge and successes excite us as we widen our base and attract great players from throughout the Commonwealth, and beyond,” Woollum said. “We look forward to a long and successful journey with Coach Broderick."

"Christopher Newport has a rich women's basketball tradition. I feel like the support for one another is second to none and the vision for success is crystal clear," Broderick said. "This is a dream come true for me and my family to have the opportunity to return to our home state and work at one of the top up and coming universities in the country."

The Vienna, VA native graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education in 1993 from Frostburg State where he continued on to earn a master's in health and physical education in 1995.  

The CNU women’s basketball squad is coming off a 22-6 season under the direction of interim coach Jon Waters, senior associate director of athletics. The Captains are one year removed from an NCAA Final Four appearance and back-to-back 30-win campaigns.
 
“It was a great pleasure for me to coach the women’s team last season,” Waters said. “It was clear through our interaction with coach Broderick that he shares our values in helping student athletes develop fully both on and off the court. We will be excited  to see the team continue to grow under his direction.”

Broderick was an assistant coach under current Old Dominion head coach and CNU Hall of Famer Karen Barefoot while at Elon University.

"First of all, I know there were some star candidates for the job and it makes me feel proud that there were a lot of great people up for the job," Barefoot said. "Under the great leadership of President Trible and C.J. Woollum, I couldn't be more proud of the decision they've made in hiring Bill. He's such a well-rounded individual and coach; he loves to teach and not only is he a great recruiter, but he does a great job bringing out the best in his players. He gives his heart and soul in everything he does and I think it's a great choice for CNU; I'm looking forward to some great things."