Morgan Valley Back At UConn After Leaving Hartford Hoop Program

WEST HARTFORD/STORRS, CT — Morgan Valley, a member of three University of Connecticut national championship teams, is returning the the Husky women's basketball program as an assistant coach.

University of Hartford Interim Athletic Director Maria Feeley announced Wednesday that Valley has resigned as head coach there on Wednesday. Shortly after, UConn coach Geno Auriemma announced the addition of Valley to the staff, pending the completion of the university’s employee "onboarding" process.

UConn great Shea Ralph left the Huskies to take the Vanderbilt head coaching job last week.

"We’re absolutely thrilled to have Morgan come on board," Auriemma said. “We wanted to get someone in here who had varied experiences, and certainly Morgan, since her playing days at UConn, has had an impact at numerous schools around the country. We thought it’d be the perfect situation for us. Morgan is familiar with who we are, what we stand for and what our goals are. I think they’re perfectly aligned with Morgan’s values and goals, and we’re just excited to have her back with our program."

Valley seemed thrilled.

"Words cannot express how honored and excited I am to come back home and represent the University of Connecticut," Valley said. "I am so grateful to Coach Auriemma for this amazing opportunity. This is a dream come true and I can’t wait to get started."

Valley comes to UConn with 16 years of coaching experience, including the past two seasons as the head coach at Hartford. She has coached in the Atlantic Coast Conference, America East, Atlantic 10, Big East, Colonial Athletic Association, Pac-12 and the Patriot League.

"I thank Morgan for everything she has done over the past two seasons to rebuild our women's basketball program," Feeley said. "While I am sad to see Morgan leave, I understand her desire to return to her alma mater, where she was a four-year member of a team that appeared in four Final Fours and won three NCAA Division I National Championships. We wish her the best."

During her two seasons at Hartford, Valley helped "stabilize" and rebuild a women's basketball program that was depleted when she arrived by graduation and transfers, Feeley said.

Prior to Hartford, Valley spent two seasons as an assistant at Arizona, where she helped the Wildcats secure their highest-ranked recruiting class in program history in 2018. She also assisted the team to the 2019 WNIT Championship.

Valley served as an assistant coach at Washington from 2015-17, helping the western Huskies to their first-ever Final Four in 2016. She was instrumental in developing Kelsey Plum, Washington’s first All-American in program history.

Valley also had coaching stints at Virginia Tech (2014 to 2015), UMass (2010 to 2014), Towson (2008 to 2010), New Hampshire (2007 to 2008) and Holy Cross (2005 to 2007).

She began her coaching career at UConn as a student assistant from 2004 to 2005.

As a player for UConn from 2000-04, Valley was a member of the 2002, 2003 and 2004 NCAA Championship teams, including the 2001-02 undefeated season. She appeared in 108 games at UConn and totaled 282 points and 263 rebounds.

Valley graduated from UConn in 2004 with a degree in human development and family studies.