Women's Basketball
Rigney, Glenn
Glenn Rigney
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
Director of Recruiting, Director of Player Development, Defensive Coordinator, Team Travel Liaison
- Email:
- tgr204@lehigh.edu
- Phone:
- 610-758-4362
- Alma Mater:
- Miami '79
The 2023-24 season marks Glenn Rigney’s 20th season as the Mountain Hawks’ defensive coach and his 17th season as the associate head coach of the Lehigh women's basketball program. Rigney has helped lead Lehigh to 12 Patriot League semifinal appearances in the last 17 years, including a trio of Patriot League titles during that timeframe (2009, 2010, 2021).
During the 2022-23 season, Rigney mentored Lehigh's two first-team All-Patriot League honorees and coached Frannie Hottinger, the 2023 Patriot League Player of the Year.
Rigney was named to Silver Waves Media's list of top mid-major assistant coaches in Division I women's basketball in June 2022.
With Rigney's guidance, Lehigh once again reached the mountaintop during the 2020-21 campaign, capturing the program's fourth Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2010, with a 64-54 victory over Boston University. The victory followed the Mountain Hawks' third straight semifinal appearance, knocking off undefeated Bucknell on the road for the first time in nine tries. Lehigh dismantled fifth-seeded Holy Cross at Stabler Arena in the quarterfinal round, the team's third victory over the Crusaders on the season. Rigney helped the Mountain Hawks finish the year with a 10-6 overall record and 7-5 in Patriot League play en route to a No. 4 seed in the Patriot League. In an 89-71 win over American on January 11, the Mountain Hawks sank a new program record 16 3-pointers, also tying the Patriot League record in the process. Two players, Frannie Hottinger and Mary Clougherty, earned Second Team All-Patriot League selections while both were named Academic All-Patriot League honorees. Freshman Mackenzie Kramer was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie team, the program's first honoree since 2016.
Rigney helped guide Lehigh to a 37-25 combined record from 2014-2016, as Lehigh made a PL Championship appearance in 2014-15 and semifinal appearance in 2015-16. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in steals per game, averaging 8.3 per contest, during the 2013-14 season. In 2010-11 under Rigney, Lehigh ranked first in the league in steals at nine per game. The Mountain Hawks were also fourth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 58.5 points per game and third in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 37.4%.
Under Rigney's guidance in 2009-10, the Mountain Hawks finished second in the Patriot League in scoring defense, allowing just 55.2 points per game. Lehigh led the league in field goal defense, holding opponents to a 36.9% shooting clip, including a 28.4% mark from behind the arc. The Brown and White also led the league in steals (9.5) and turnover margin (+3.79) en route to a second straight Patriot League championship.
In 2008-09, the Mountain Hawks finished first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.367) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.293) and ranked second in scoring defense (57.2 points per game) en route to winning the Patriot League championship.
Rigney worked primarily with the guards in the 2008-09 season, including Erica Prosser, who was named Patriot League Player of the Year. Under Rigney’s guidance, Lehigh’s guards put up impressive numbers, leading to a school-record 196 made 3-pointers and two All-Patriot League selections from the backcourt. Alex Ross broke her own school record by sinking 93 triples in the 2008-09 season.
Rigney’s defensive philosophy helped Lehigh put up staggering defensive numbers in the 2007-08 season, leading all Patriot League defenses and finishing fifth in the nation in scoring defense (52.9 points allowed per game).
During his first season, Rigney worked primarily with the post players. That year, his group held a plus 4.9 rebound margin over Patriot League opponents and had the league’s best defensive rebounds average with 25 rebounds per game.
"Coach Rigney brings a wealth of knowledge to our program, strong teaching abilities, a strong understanding of recruiting and the types of student-athletes we are targeting at our level," said Lehigh head coach Sue Troyan. "He possesses a high level of knowledge regarding our league and league opponents, and a strong sense for the value we hold within the Patriot League, in particular, at Lehigh."
Rigney first got involved with collegiate basketball in 1981 when he was a student-assistant for the University of North Carolina-Greensboro men’s basketball team. He was promoted to full-time assistant coach the following year elevating his duties to include being responsible for practice planning, recruiting, scouting and on-floor coaching.
Rigney has been no stranger to the Patriot League, having held positions at Navy and American. While at Navy (2001-03), Rigney’s focus was on the guards and team defense. He coached under Joe Sanchez, who helped build Navy’s women’s basketball program. During his two years with the Midshipmen, Rigney coached two-time first-team All-Patriot League selection Courtney Davidson.
While at American, Rigney acted as the team’s recruiting coordinator and was responsible for post play. In his one season with the Eagles (2003-04), American finished second in the league standings and made its first appearance in the Patriot League Championship game. Under Rigney’s direction, Chanel Hunt was selected to the Second-Team All-Patriot League. Hunt had a team-best 155 defensive rebounds and 12 blocks that season.
Prior to getting involved at the collegiate level for the second time in his career, Rigney worked at the high school level for 17 years. He was the athletic director and chairman of the physical education department at Westchester Academy in High Point, N.C. where he coached the Triad Conference co-champion varsity soccer team. In 1990 and 1992, he coached the women’s basketball team from Trinity High School in Trinity, N.C. to post-season appearances. Rigney moved south to Florida in 1993 where he accepted a position at Maclay School in Tallahassee as a physical education instructor. While at Maclay, Rigney was the head coach for the varsity girls’ basketball and golf programs. He compiled a 190-59 record as the team’s basketball coach, leading them to the district championship in 1994 and seven consecutive post-season appearances. His team advanced to the region championships four times, including back-to-back appearances in 1996 and 1997. As the golf coach, Rigney led Maclay to multiple district championships on both the boys and girls side. The boys’ team won the district championship from 1995-2001 while the girls’ team was district champion from 1994-96. As a result, Rigney earned Big Bend Golf Coach of the Year four times in his tenure (1994, 1996-97 and 2001).
Rigney received his bachelors from the University of Miami in 1979 in education. While at Miami, he was a member of the Physical Education Honor Society, Phi Epsilon Kappa. Rigney has been an active member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association since 1989.
During the 2022-23 season, Rigney mentored Lehigh's two first-team All-Patriot League honorees and coached Frannie Hottinger, the 2023 Patriot League Player of the Year.
Rigney was named to Silver Waves Media's list of top mid-major assistant coaches in Division I women's basketball in June 2022.
With Rigney's guidance, Lehigh once again reached the mountaintop during the 2020-21 campaign, capturing the program's fourth Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, the first since 2010, with a 64-54 victory over Boston University. The victory followed the Mountain Hawks' third straight semifinal appearance, knocking off undefeated Bucknell on the road for the first time in nine tries. Lehigh dismantled fifth-seeded Holy Cross at Stabler Arena in the quarterfinal round, the team's third victory over the Crusaders on the season. Rigney helped the Mountain Hawks finish the year with a 10-6 overall record and 7-5 in Patriot League play en route to a No. 4 seed in the Patriot League. In an 89-71 win over American on January 11, the Mountain Hawks sank a new program record 16 3-pointers, also tying the Patriot League record in the process. Two players, Frannie Hottinger and Mary Clougherty, earned Second Team All-Patriot League selections while both were named Academic All-Patriot League honorees. Freshman Mackenzie Kramer was a member of the Patriot League All-Rookie team, the program's first honoree since 2016.
Rigney helped guide Lehigh to a 37-25 combined record from 2014-2016, as Lehigh made a PL Championship appearance in 2014-15 and semifinal appearance in 2015-16. The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in steals per game, averaging 8.3 per contest, during the 2013-14 season. In 2010-11 under Rigney, Lehigh ranked first in the league in steals at nine per game. The Mountain Hawks were also fourth in the league in scoring defense, allowing 58.5 points per game and third in field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 37.4%.
Under Rigney's guidance in 2009-10, the Mountain Hawks finished second in the Patriot League in scoring defense, allowing just 55.2 points per game. Lehigh led the league in field goal defense, holding opponents to a 36.9% shooting clip, including a 28.4% mark from behind the arc. The Brown and White also led the league in steals (9.5) and turnover margin (+3.79) en route to a second straight Patriot League championship.
In 2008-09, the Mountain Hawks finished first in the league in field goal percentage defense (.367) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (.293) and ranked second in scoring defense (57.2 points per game) en route to winning the Patriot League championship.
Rigney worked primarily with the guards in the 2008-09 season, including Erica Prosser, who was named Patriot League Player of the Year. Under Rigney’s guidance, Lehigh’s guards put up impressive numbers, leading to a school-record 196 made 3-pointers and two All-Patriot League selections from the backcourt. Alex Ross broke her own school record by sinking 93 triples in the 2008-09 season.
Rigney’s defensive philosophy helped Lehigh put up staggering defensive numbers in the 2007-08 season, leading all Patriot League defenses and finishing fifth in the nation in scoring defense (52.9 points allowed per game).
During his first season, Rigney worked primarily with the post players. That year, his group held a plus 4.9 rebound margin over Patriot League opponents and had the league’s best defensive rebounds average with 25 rebounds per game.
"Coach Rigney brings a wealth of knowledge to our program, strong teaching abilities, a strong understanding of recruiting and the types of student-athletes we are targeting at our level," said Lehigh head coach Sue Troyan. "He possesses a high level of knowledge regarding our league and league opponents, and a strong sense for the value we hold within the Patriot League, in particular, at Lehigh."
Rigney first got involved with collegiate basketball in 1981 when he was a student-assistant for the University of North Carolina-Greensboro men’s basketball team. He was promoted to full-time assistant coach the following year elevating his duties to include being responsible for practice planning, recruiting, scouting and on-floor coaching.
Rigney has been no stranger to the Patriot League, having held positions at Navy and American. While at Navy (2001-03), Rigney’s focus was on the guards and team defense. He coached under Joe Sanchez, who helped build Navy’s women’s basketball program. During his two years with the Midshipmen, Rigney coached two-time first-team All-Patriot League selection Courtney Davidson.
While at American, Rigney acted as the team’s recruiting coordinator and was responsible for post play. In his one season with the Eagles (2003-04), American finished second in the league standings and made its first appearance in the Patriot League Championship game. Under Rigney’s direction, Chanel Hunt was selected to the Second-Team All-Patriot League. Hunt had a team-best 155 defensive rebounds and 12 blocks that season.
Prior to getting involved at the collegiate level for the second time in his career, Rigney worked at the high school level for 17 years. He was the athletic director and chairman of the physical education department at Westchester Academy in High Point, N.C. where he coached the Triad Conference co-champion varsity soccer team. In 1990 and 1992, he coached the women’s basketball team from Trinity High School in Trinity, N.C. to post-season appearances. Rigney moved south to Florida in 1993 where he accepted a position at Maclay School in Tallahassee as a physical education instructor. While at Maclay, Rigney was the head coach for the varsity girls’ basketball and golf programs. He compiled a 190-59 record as the team’s basketball coach, leading them to the district championship in 1994 and seven consecutive post-season appearances. His team advanced to the region championships four times, including back-to-back appearances in 1996 and 1997. As the golf coach, Rigney led Maclay to multiple district championships on both the boys and girls side. The boys’ team won the district championship from 1995-2001 while the girls’ team was district champion from 1994-96. As a result, Rigney earned Big Bend Golf Coach of the Year four times in his tenure (1994, 1996-97 and 2001).
Rigney received his bachelors from the University of Miami in 1979 in education. While at Miami, he was a member of the Physical Education Honor Society, Phi Epsilon Kappa. Rigney has been an active member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association since 1989.
Chasing Greatness: The Road to the Patriot League Title - Part 2
Thursday, May 15
Chasing Greatness: The Road to the Patriot League Title - Part 1
Wednesday, May 14
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Wednesday, March 19
Lehigh Sports Central: Women's Basketball
Wednesday, January 29
