June 11, 2001
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech has hired former Auburn assistant coach MaChelle Joseph as an assistant women’s basketball coach, head coach Agnus Berenato announced Monday.
Joseph, an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Auburn since 1997, helped guide the Tigers to a combined 96-48 record and the second round of the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three years. Each of her last four recruiting classes were ranked in the Top 10 nationally by All-Star Girls Report, and the 2001 recruiting class was ranked the nation’s second-best. Joseph was recognized this spring as one of the nation’s top 25 assistant coaches by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have MaChelle on our staff,” Berenato said. “She brings a lot of enthusiasm and is a proven winner. I have the utmost respect for her as a person, as a player and as a coach.”
“I’m very excited for the opportunity to work for Coach Berenato and to work for a prestigious academic institution like Georgia Tech,” Joseph said. “I feel that I’m coming to Georgia Tech at a great time. I think Georgia Tech is on the verge of breaking through not only in the ACC, but nationally as well. I’m looking forward to helping build the Georgia Tech women’s basketball program into a national powerhouse.”
Before joining the Auburn staff, Joseph coached at her alma mater, Purdue, from 1993-96. The Boilermakers advanced to the Final Four in 1994 and followed that performance with a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.
A four-year starter for the Boilermakers from 1989-92, Joseph garnered many conference and national accolades. After earning Big 10 Freshman of the Year honors in 1989, Joseph was a unanimous first-team All-Big 10 selection in 1990, 1991 and 1992 and earned Kodak All-America honors in 1992. As a senior, she was named Big 10 Player of the Year and was Women’s Basketball News’ College Player of the Year. She finished her career first on the Big 10’s all-time scoring list (and is currently second) and was the only player in conference history to rank in the top 10 in assists and scoring.
“It’s a step in the right direction,” Berenato said. “Candy (Cage) did a great job while she was here and Machelle will continue that. She is known nationally as an excellent recruiter and will help our program get to the next level. She has great contacts and she’s very, very likeable.”
Joseph replaces Candy Cage, who accepted a job as head coach at Loyola College last week.
