Phil Seymore isn’t wasting any time in trying to lead the College’s women’s basketball program in a new direction.

An assistant coach for the Friars’ men’s basketball team for the last five years, Seymore was appointed as women’s head coach on April 7 by Robert G. Driscoll, Jr., associate vice president for athletics and athletic director. Seymore replaces Susan Yow, who resigned in March after coaching three seasons. PC finished the 2004-05 season with a 1-27 record.

On April 25, less than three weeks after his appointment, Seymore announced that Shantee Darrian, a 6-2 forward from Trenton, N.J., had signed a National Letter of Intent to attend PC beginning in fall 2005. Darrian, who averaged 19.6 points and 15 rebounds a game this past season for The Hun School of Princeton, N.J., becomes the first student-athlete to sign with the Friars under Seymore and the fourth overall for fall 2005.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Seymore brings 16 years of Division I men’s basketball coaching experience to the position. Under men’s Head Coach Tim Welsh, he was primarily responsible for recruiting, player development, and scouting. Prior to coming to PC in 2000, he was an assistant coach at the University of Richmond in Virginia for three years. 

Seymore began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under former PC assistant men’s coach Nick Macarchuk at Canisius University in Buffalo, N.Y. After one season, he moved on to Turner Carroll High School in Buffalo for four years, including serving as head coach for two seasons. His 1989-90 team won the state Catholic School Class C Championship. He then returned to Canisius, where he was an assistant men’s coach for seven years.

Seymore, a standout point guard at Canisius who went on to become a Continental Basketball Association All-Star, said he is excited to accept the position and challenge of women’s head coach. He said he knows the program well, noting he attended the team’s practices and games when his responsibilities with the men’s squad allowed.

“I’ll give it every ounce of energy I have,” he said.