University of Delaware graduate Jamie Chadwin is the first men’s basketball coach in the history of Immaculata University, a former national power in women’s basketball that has enrolled its first coeducational class in the traditional undergraduate college this fall.

Chadwin accepted the position as head coach at Immaculata after having served as assistant men’s basketball coach at Gwynedd-Mercy College since the 2002 season.  At Gwynned-Mercy, he helped take the program to a Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title and its first appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament.

Prior to coaching at Gwynedd-Mercy, Chadwin served as administrative assistant basketball coach at UD, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education in 2002.  He worked with both UD Head Coach David Henderson and his predecessor Mike Brey, who is now head coach at the University of Notre Dame.

“It has always been a goal of mine to be a head basketball coach,” Chadwin says. “I an extremely excited to be a head coach at the college level, and to be the first men’s basketball coach for a university with such a rich basketball tradition as Immaculata.”

Long before Tennessee and Connecticut came to dominate women’s basketball, Immaculata’s Mighty Macs were the most successful team in America. They won the first national women’s collegiate basketball championship, sponsored by the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) prior to NCAA involvement in women’s athletics, in 1972.

The Mighty Macs went on to win two more AIAW titles in 1973 and 1974. They finished second in 1975 and 1976 and fourth in 1977.

As head coach, Chadwin will oversee the daily operations of the men’s basketball program, which includes on-court coaching during games and practices; coordinating scouting and recruitment; developing players; assisting in fundraising; and arranging for team travel.

Chadwin says his primary mission is to build not just a team, but a program. “Wins will take care of themselves if we do things the right way and concentrate on creating a program that allows student-athletes the opportunity to grow on and off the court,” he says.

His UD experience has provided a solid base of information and experience from which to draw, Chadwin says. “I learned so much at the University of Delaware, first with Mike Brey and [assistant coach] Sean Kearney. They are terrific people and have amazing basketball minds,” he says. “I was fortunate enough to work with David Henderson, as well, and learned so much as the program made a transition between coaches.”

Chadwin also cites the influence of Tyronne Perry, an outstanding point guard for the Fightin’ Blue Hens who was an assistant coach with the women’s basketball team until leaving earlier this year to become assistant men’s coach at Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md.

“Simply being a part of a program that was based on good values, where people took pride in working hard and accomplishing their goals, really helped me shape my coaching and teaching philosophy,” Chadwin says.  “I owe a lot to UD and the people who make it such a great place to learn.”

As well, Chadwin says he is very grateful to Sister R. Patricia Fadden, the president of Immaculata, for providing him an opportunity “to develop a strong program that fits the mission of the university.”

Immaculata is a member of the NCAA Division III Pennsylvania Athletic Conference.