After 33 seasons and two national titles, Hall of Famer Muffet McGraw will be stepping down from the throne.

She became the 13th woman to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.

In her time with the Fighting Irish, she recorded a record of 848-253.  Adding her five seasons at Lehigh to start her head coaching career would make her overall record 936-263.

She received her first coaching job at Archbishop Carroll High School in Philadelphia before embarking on her collegiate coaching career at her alma mater, St. Joseph’s in Pennsylvania.

McGraw coached one Hall of Famer, two Olympians, 20 WNBA players including Skylar Diggins-Smith, Kayle McBride, Arike Ogunbowale, and Ruth Riley, 22 All-Americans, and 36 different players who all earned all-conference recognition.

Ruth Riley, All-American center, and member of the 2001 national championship team said, “Muffet McGraw is one of the most iconic figures in the landscape of sport, and one of the greatest influences in my life.”  (Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune)

She also added that “Muffet is a pioneer, a trailblazer, a fierce competitor, a champion, a leader, and an advocate for women’s empowerment and equality.”

McGraw looks to expand her role as an activist.  She looks to emphasize her beliefs in needing more women in leadership.  She jokes that she is too honest for politics, but believes in making an impact on women’s empowerment.

With McGraw leaving big shoes to fill, former Notre Dame basketball player, Niele Ivey, will be filling her position.

Ivey was an All-American point-guard and an assistant coach under Muffet McGraw.

She was an assistant for the Memphis Grizzlies last summer, becoming the NBA’s ninth female coach.

She played in the WNBA for the Indiana Fever, Detroit Shock, and Phoenix Mercury.

Ivey became the 17th player in school history to record over 1,000 career points.

In 2001, she also received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, which is presented to the nation’s top player under 5’8″.