Jennifer Rizzotti
Encyclopedia
Jennifer Rizzotti is a retired American collegiate and professional basketball
player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.
. She was the starting point guard
on the Huskies first national championship team in 1995, which recorded a perfect season, winning all 35 games. Rizzotti's picture was on the cover of Sport's Illustrated magazine in recognition of the perfect season. Jen was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup
for 1995-96, presented to the athlete "most deserving of recognition as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year". She was named the 1996 Associated Press Player of the Year.
Rizzotti was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program. Rizzotti won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
during the 1995-96 basketball season. This award is given to the best women's basketball player in the country under 5'6' tall. During the 1995-96 season Jennifer set school records for assists with 212 and steals with 112. Jennifer graduated with a degree in biology.
Sports Illustrated did a series of thirteen photographs featuring players and team member of teams chasing or achieving perfect seasons—an entire season without a loss. The cover photo of Jennifer Rizzoti racing upcourt is one of the photos in the collection.
, of the now defunct American Basketball League
. during that time she was a 2-time All-Star, Rizzotti was a member of the Houston Comets
after being drafted in 1999, and played for the Comets in 1999 and 2000. The Comets won the League Championship both seasons. In 2001 she was traded to the Detroit Shock, but a month later, she was traded to the Cleveland Rockers. She played for the Cleveland Rockers
from 2001-2003. Rizzotti was selected in the dispersal draft by the Detroit Shock in January 2004, but she retired from the WNBA.
, where she has led the Hawks
to four America East Conference
championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament
. She was named America East Coach of the Year in the 2006, 2007 and 2010 seasons. In 2010 Rizzotti guided Hartford to an undefeated regular season in the America East Conference. She is one of 10 finalists up for the Kay Yow Coach of the Year. The winner will be announced at the Final Four in San Antonio.
She grew up in New Fairfield, Connecticut
and graduated from New Fairfield High School
in 1992.
Rizzotti was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2001.
Rizzotti married University of Hartford
assistant, Bill Sullivan in July 1999. The two welcomed their first child on April 16, 2005. His name is Holden Thomas Sullivan. The couple's second child, Conor, was born on July 8, 2008.
Rizzotti was honored by her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, as the winner of the Red O'Neill Award, an award given annually to a former student athlete who has "gone on to distinguish themselves in their chosen career".
Rizzotti served as the head coach of the USA Basketball
U18 team
, scheduled to play in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women in June 2010 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs CO. She has previously served as an assistant coach of the U18 team, assisting head coach Doug Bruno
in 2006, when the team went 4-0 to win the gold medal.
Rizzotti in was honored by The University of Hartford in 2010, as Commencement speaker. Additionally she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University.
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Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, and current Division I coach. She is the daughter of Tom Rizzotti and Carol Rizzotti.
College
From 1992 to 1996, she starred on the women's basketball team at the University of ConnecticutUniversity of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
. She was the starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
on the Huskies first national championship team in 1995, which recorded a perfect season, winning all 35 games. Rizzotti's picture was on the cover of Sport's Illustrated magazine in recognition of the perfect season. Jen was awarded the prestigious Honda-Broderick Cup
Honda-Broderick Cup
The Honda-Broderick Cup is a sports award for college-level female athletes. The awards are voted on by a national panel of more than 1000 collegiate athletic directors. It was first presented by the late Thomas Broderick, owner of a sports apparel company, in 1977, with the first award going to...
for 1995-96, presented to the athlete "most deserving of recognition as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year". She was named the 1996 Associated Press Player of the Year.
Rizzotti was a member of the inaugural class of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program. Rizzotti won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
during the 1995-96 basketball season. This award is given to the best women's basketball player in the country under 5'6' tall. During the 1995-96 season Jennifer set school records for assists with 212 and steals with 112. Jennifer graduated with a degree in biology.
Sports Illustrated did a series of thirteen photographs featuring players and team member of teams chasing or achieving perfect seasons—an entire season without a loss. The cover photo of Jennifer Rizzoti racing upcourt is one of the photos in the collection.
Professional
She began her career as a professional basketball player playing for the New England BlizzardNew England Blizzard
The New England Blizzard was a women's professional basketball franchise based in Hartford, Connecticut. The Blizzard was a charter member of the American Basketball League...
, of the now defunct American Basketball League
American Basketball League (1996-1998)
The American Basketball League, often abbreviated to the ABL of 1996 was an independent professional basketball league for women in the United States. At the same time the ABL was being formed, the National Basketball Association was creating the Women's National Basketball Association...
. during that time she was a 2-time All-Star, Rizzotti was a member of the Houston Comets
Houston Comets
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
after being drafted in 1999, and played for the Comets in 1999 and 2000. The Comets won the League Championship both seasons. In 2001 she was traded to the Detroit Shock, but a month later, she was traded to the Cleveland Rockers. She played for the Cleveland Rockers
Cleveland Rockers
This article is about the defunct WNBA team; for the American Basketball Association team, see Cleveland Rockers .The Cleveland Rockers were a Women's National Basketball Association team that played from 1997 until 2003. The Rockers were one of the original eight franchises of the WNBA, which...
from 2001-2003. Rizzotti was selected in the dispersal draft by the Detroit Shock in January 2004, but she retired from the WNBA.
Coaching
Rizzotti is currently in her 11th season as the head women's basketball coach at the University of HartfordUniversity of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
, where she has led the Hawks
Hartford Hawks
The Hartford Hawks are the athletic teams of the University of Hartford. The school sponsors 18 varsity sports , all of which compete in the Division I America East Conference. The Hawks' colors are scarlet and white.-Teams:...
to four America East Conference
America East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
championships and four trips to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
. She was named America East Coach of the Year in the 2006, 2007 and 2010 seasons. In 2010 Rizzotti guided Hartford to an undefeated regular season in the America East Conference. She is one of 10 finalists up for the Kay Yow Coach of the Year. The winner will be announced at the Final Four in San Antonio.
She grew up in New Fairfield, Connecticut
New Fairfield, Connecticut
New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,881 at the 2010 census. The town is considered part of the greater New York Metropolitan Area and lies approximately from New York City...
and graduated from New Fairfield High School
New Fairfield High School
New Fairfield High School is the only secondary school within New Fairfield, Connecticut. It enrolls approximately 900 students annually. The current principal of New Fairfield High School is Mariana Coelho. The school was constructed in the 1970s with open classrooms that were retrofitted with...
in 1992.
Rizzotti was inducted into the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame in 2001.
Rizzotti married University of Hartford
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
assistant, Bill Sullivan in July 1999. The two welcomed their first child on April 16, 2005. His name is Holden Thomas Sullivan. The couple's second child, Conor, was born on July 8, 2008.
Rizzotti was honored by her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, as the winner of the Red O'Neill Award, an award given annually to a former student athlete who has "gone on to distinguish themselves in their chosen career".
Rizzotti served as the head coach of the USA Basketball
USA Basketball
USA Basketball is a non-profit organization and the governing body for basketball in the United States. The organization represents the United States in FIBA and the men's and women's national basketball teams in the United States Olympic Committee...
U18 team
USA Women's U18 and U19 teams
The USA Women's U18 and U19 teams are two of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The team names refer to the age limits for the invited players...
, scheduled to play in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women in June 2010 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs CO. She has previously served as an assistant coach of the U18 team, assisting head coach Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno
Doug Bruno is the head coach of the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team. In 2008–09, he completed his 23rd season as head coach. In 2007, Bruno completed a two-year term as President of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, a position to which he was elected by his peers...
in 2006, when the team went 4-0 to win the gold medal.
Rizzotti in was honored by The University of Hartford in 2010, as Commencement speaker. Additionally she received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from the University.
University of Connecticut statistics
| Jennifer Rizzotti Statistics at University of Connecticut | |||||||||||||||||||
| Year | G | FG | FGA | PCT | 3FG | 3FGA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | A | TO | B | S | MIN | PTS | AVG |
|||||||||||||||||||
| 1992-93 | 29 | 116 | 288 | 0.403 | 53 | 142 | 0.373 | 73 | 118 | 0.619 | 125 | 4.3 | 104 | 116 | 1 | 60 | 1006 | 358 | 12.3 |
| 1993-94 | 33 | 110 | 239 | 0.46 | 54 | 126 | 0.429 | 52 | 78 | 0.667 | 111 | 3.4 | 150 | 90 | 4 | 80 | 992 | 326 | 9.9 |
| 1994-95 | 35 | 156 | 308 | 0.506 | 57 | 138 | 0.413 | 69 | 94 | 0.734 | 97 | 2.8 | 161 | 86 | 2 | 98 | 905 | 438 | 12.5 |
| 1995-96 | 38 | 148 | 335 | 0.442 | 43 | 158 | 0.272 | 79 | 112 | 0.705 | 126 | 3.3 | 222 | 115 | 2 | 112 | 1230 | 418 | 11.0 |
| Totals | 135 | 530 | 1170 | 0.453 | 207 | 564 | 0.367 | 273 | 402 | 0.679 | 459 | 3.4 | 637 | 407 | 9 | 350 | 4133 | 1540 | 11.1 |