HUNTINGDON, Pa.- Danny Young-Uhrich, the Juniata College women's basketball coach for the last 21 years, will step down from her coaching responsibilities to take on a new role within the Juniata College athletics department. She will transition into an administrator role overseeing department-wide event management and equipment operations formerly led by Scott McKenzie, current associate athletic director for external engagement and former women's soccer coach, who will begin a phased retirement in July.
Young-Uhrich's time as coach coincided with many of the program's best moments as she led the team to over 250 wins, the program's lone conference championship in 2010–2011, nine trips to the Landmark Conference playoffs, four trips to the NCAA Tournament, three trips to the ECAC Tournament, which included winning the tournament in 2008–2009. She coached 25 all-conference selections, two players of the year, three defensive players of the year, two rookies of the year, eight D3hoops.com all-region selections, and one D3hoops.com All-American. She was honored twice as the Landmark Conference Coach of the Year and once as the D3hoops.com Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. In 2011–2012, she led the team to a 26-3 record, the most wins and best winning percentage in a season in program history.
Young-Uhrich also stood out as a student-athlete in Juniata blue and gold as both a field hockey player and basketball player. She made the All-MAC team three times as a field hockey player, the second team twice, and the first team once, while making the all-conference first team as a basketball player her senior year. For women's basketball, she still appears at the top of the all-time steals record, along with being third all-time in blocks and seventh all-time in assists.
"I want to thank Danny for her dedication to the women's basketball program and to Juniata. What she has been able to accomplish over the last 21 years has been nothing short of amazing," says Nikki Ayers, director of athletics. "We have an opportunity with Scott McKenzie taking a step back to utilize her strengths and expertise within our department. Both Scott and Danny have been powerhouses within the department, and I am excited that Danny has agreed to step into this new role for the department."
"It's been a privilege to have been the keeper of the Juniata women's basketball program over the past two-plus decades. I loved having the opportunity to give back to a sport and program that has given me so much," says Danny Young-Uhrich. "Walking away is definitely bittersweet, however, I am looking forward to the next phase of my career."
Danny will transition her coaching responsibilities over the spring, and Juniata College will launch a national search for its next head women's basketball coach immediately.
