Kate (Pierangeli) Pearson was named head women’s basketball coach at Cabrini College June 16, 2009. Pearson takes over leadership of the women’s basketball program following five seasons as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers.
“Kate’s experience as a phenomenal Division III player and as our assistant coach for the past several years makes this a perfect opportunity to promote a good person from within,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Joe Giunta. “She excelled as an All-American at the University of Scranton and has been a major part of our success as an assistant coach at Cabrini. The Cabrini women’s basketball program is in great hands with Kate.”
Pearson inherits a Cavaliers team that has captured two consecutive Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) titles and has advanced to two straight NCAA Tournaments. In 2008-09, Cabrini finished with 23 overall victories, the program’s highest win total since the 1994-95 season.
“I am ecstatic to become the head women’s basketball coach at Cabrini College,” Pearson said. “This program has experienced a great deal of growth and success the last few seasons and I look forward to continuing that tradition.”
Pearson joined the Cabrini sidelines in 2004-05 as an assistant to head coach Bobbi Morgan. In four seasons alongside Morgan, the Cavaliers posted a 66-41 overall record, captured one CSAC championship, advanced to one NCAA Tournament and appeared in two conference title games.
Last season, Pearson helped guide Cabrini to its second consecutive CSAC crown and trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Bernadette Laukaitis. The Cavaliers claimed the conference regular season title for the first time since the 1996-97 campaign.
Pearson played four seasons at perennial Division III power Scranton under legendary head coach Mike Strong. With Pearson in the backcourt, the Lady Royals owned a 95-18 record, captured two Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) titles and appeared in three NCAA Tournaments.
Pearson was twice selected a Kodak All-American and earned MAC First Team honors three times. She lists first all-time in program history in career three-point field goals made (181) and attempted (551). Pearson also ranks fourth all-time in assists (427), fourth in steals (263) and sixth in free-throw percentage (.742). She lists 11th all-time, scoring 1,292 career points.
Pearson drained a program-record 58 three-point field goals in 2002-03. She led the Lady Royals in scoring and assists in each of her final three seasons from 2001-2004.
Pearson was also a three-year letterwinner with the women’s lacrosse team at Scranton, winning two MAC crowns and appearing in two NCAA Tournaments. She was a three-time MAC First Team honoree. Pearson was named the Tom O’Hara Award recipient in 2004 as the school’s top female athlete.
Pearson’s ties to Cabrini extend well before her first season as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball team in 2004-05. Her mother, Dianne, coached the Cavalier women’s soccer team for nine seasons from 1993-2001.
Pearson graduated from Scranton in 2004 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in secondary education English at Cabrini.
Kate and her husband, Mike, were married in May 2009 and reside in West Chester, Pa.
