Muffet McGraw inducted into Philly Sports Hall of Fame
PHILADELPHIA — Notre Dame head women's basketball coach Muffet McGraw returned home Thursday and was inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame.
McGraw, former 76er Allen Iverson, former Eagle Brian Westbrook and former Phillie Jamie Moyer highlighted the 2018 class.
Last year McGraw was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. On Oct. 3, McGraw was enshrined into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
With two national championships to her name, McGraw is one of six women’s hoops coaches with multiple NCAA titles, joining Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Linda Sharp, Tara VanDerveer and Kim Mulkey. In addition, McGraw is one of two active Division I coaches with at least six NCAA title game appearances and one of three all-time to reach eight Final Fours.
McGraw is a native of West Chester, Pa., and graduated from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.
McGraw enters her 32nd season at Notre Dame with 800 wins and a .777 winning percentage. She is beginning her 37th year overall as a head coach with 888 career wins.
McGraw and the Notre Dame team start the new season where they left off — atop women's college basketball.
The Irish were the unanimous No. 1 team in The Associated Press women's basketball preseason poll that was released Wednesday.
The defending national champions received all 31 first-place votes from a national media panel. It's only the second time that McGraw's team has been the preseason No. 1 team. It also occurred in 2016.
The Irish return four starters from last season's team that battled through a bunch of ACL injuries before winning the school's second national championship. McGraw was honored that the team was ranked first, but feels that there are a lot of good teams in college basketball this year.
"Parity is creeping in. I think there are a lot of good teams that are on the radar and some that are under it. It will be interesting to see," she said. "People picked up some good freshmen."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
