June 30, 2009

PhilaU Women’s Hoops Adds Jean-Marie (Reilly) Torpey to Coaching Staff

Philadelphia, PA-  Philadelphia University Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Head Coach Tom Shirley has announced that former standout Lady Ram point guard Jean-Marie (Reilly) Torpey will join his staff as the newest assistant women's basketball coach.

"It will be a pleasure to have Jean-Marie back on the bench for PhilaU," said Shirley.  "Having already played and coached with me, she understands our system and knows what it takes to be successful.  

Reilly scored well over 1,000 points during her four-year career playing for Shirley and currently ranks eighth all-time with 1,358 total points.  She was named New York Collegiate Athletic Conference (NYCAC) ‘Co-Player of the Year' in '04 and '03 ECAC Championship MVP, averaging 17.6 ppg over those two seasons.

A veteran when it comes to success, Reilly's freshman year the Lady Rams received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.  In her junior season the team won the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), where she was named Tournament MVP.  She also earned All-Conference accolades as a junior and senior. 

Reilly's previous coaching experience includes serving as an assistant under Shirley during the 2004-05 season while earning her master's degree at PhilaU and also a three-year stint as coach for the  ‘Southampton Knight's' boy's travel team. 

She is married to fellow PhilaU graduate Steve Torpey ('03), a baseball player for the Rams and currently resides in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.