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After 30 years as head coach of the Villanova women's basketball program, Harry Perretta has established himself as one of the most respected and knowledgeable coaches in the country. A true teacher both on and off the court, Perretta strives to have a positive influence on his student-athletes not only as basketball players, but also as people.
In his 31-year Villanova career, Perretta has tallied a career record of 553-329. His 553 wins place him 21st on the winningest active collegiate coaching list, and ranks him as the all-time winningest coach in the history of Villanova basketball for both men and women. Over the past eight seasons Perretta has compiled an impressive 158-93 record.
During the 2007-08 season, Perretta led the Wildcats to one of the top turnarounds in the country with a 17-16 record. A year earlier, Villanova tallied an 8-21 mark with a young and inexperienced squad. In addition to the 17 wins, the Wildcats earned a bid to the WNIT, where they advanced to the third round. This marks the eighth postseason appearance in the last nine years. After playing in the 2000 WNIT, Villanova went to four consecutive NCAA Tournaments from 2001-2004 before playing in the WNIT in 2005, 2006 and 2008. Also, last season, Perretta guided junior forward Laura Kurz to second team All-BIG EAST honors.
Perretta registered his 14th career 20-win season in 2005-06 by leading the Wildcats to a 21-11 record. This was the fifth time in six years that Perretta led his team to a 20-win campaign. Villanova earned a WNIT berth, giving the Wildcats their seventh-straight postseason appearance. Also, in 2005-06, Perretta coached senior forward Liad Suez-Karni to first team All-Big East accolades.
In 2004-05, Perretta became the 26th Division I women's basketball head coach to win 500 games when the Wildcats defeated Pittsburgh, 70-49, on February 2. Villanova finished the season with a 19-12 overall record and qualified for the postseason for the sixth-straight season with a WNIT berth.
One year earlier, Perretta led his team to a fourth-straight 20-win campaign and a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament berth where the Wildcats advanced to the second round. Perretta also coached his squad to a second-straight Philadelphia Big Five title in 2003-04. For his efforts, he was named Big Five Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season.
The 2002-03 season was a special one for Perretta and the Wildcats. In addition to an impressive 28-6 overall record and a 12-4 Big East Conference mark, Perretta led the Wildcats to their third Big East Conference Tournament championship and first since 1987 with an improbable 52-48 upset over previously unbeaten Connecticut. The win snapped Connecticut's NCAA Division I women's basketball record of 70-straight victories and ended Connecticut's streak of nine-straight conference tournament championships.
The 28 wins recorded in 2002-03 is the second most victories in school history. Villanova was rewarded for its season by earning a No. 2 seed in the 2002-03 NCAA Tournament which is the highest seed ever for a Philadelphia area women's basketball team. In the NCAA Tournament, the Wildcats recorded wins over St. Francis (Pa.), George Washington and Colorado and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in the program's history. Also, during the 2002-03 season, Villanova went 4-0 in the Philadelphia Big Five to capture the City Series championship and he was named the Big Five Coach of the Year. Under Perretta's guidance, senior guard Trish Juhline led the Big East in scoring and garnered first team All-Big East acclaim for the second-straight year, while senior forward Katie Davis was named second team All-Big East and junior guard/forward Courtney Mix was a Big East Honorable Mention Team selection. In addition, Juhline was named the Big East Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
In 2001-02, Perretta guided Villanova to a 20-11 mark and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In the NCAA's, Villanova received the No. 9 seed in the west region where they defeated Pepperdine in the first round before losing to No. 1 seed Oklahoma in the second round. Under Perretta's tutelage, junior guard Trish Juhline became the first Wildcat since 1994-95 to be named first team All-Big East. Perretta also helped senior point guard Mimi Riley earn Big East Honorable Mention acclaim in 2001-02.
The 2000-01 season was a memorable one for Perretta, as he led his team to a 22-9 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the second round. In a 60-55 win over Temple on Dec. 2, 2000, Perretta won his 400th career game and with the 61-45 victory over Providence on Feb. 24, 2001. He became the all-time winningest coach in the history of Villanova basketball for both men and women with career win number 414. For his efforts in 2000-01, Perretta was named the Philadelphia Big Five Co-Coach of the Year. Also that season, Perretta helped senior center Brandi Barnes earn third team All-Big East distinction and sophomore guard Trish Juhline garner Big East Honorable Mention acclaim. In the Philadelphia Big Five, freshman forward Courtney Mix was named Rookie of the Year.
In 1995-96, Perretta led his team to a 21-7 record and added to his already impressive resume when he earned Big East Coach of the Year honors along with the Philadelphia Big Five Coach-of-the-Year award. Already the winningest coach in Villanova women's basketball history, on January 8, 1995 against the Georgetown Hoyas, Perretta earned his 300th career win at the age of 39. At the end of the 1994-95 season, he was named the Philadelphia Big 5 Coach of the Year.
The dean of the Big East and Big 5 coaches, Perretta has brought the Wildcats national respect and success during his tenure at Villanova. Always a crowd favorite wherever he goes, he is one of the most animated and vocal coaches in the country, continually instructing his players during the course of a game. Year-in and year-out, his teams are feared for their aggressive play, disciplined style, defensive prowess and pre-game preparations of an opponent.
A teacher of basketball, Perretta also realizes the importance of the overall college experience. He and his staff follow closely each player's academic progress, and in his 31 years at Villanova, 99 percent of the student-athletes who has stayed all four years has received her degree. Perretta is also a firm believer of using the basketball experience to teach his players lessons on life. Upon graduation, it is a sure bet that Perretta's players will leave Villanova as better basketball players, in addition to being prepared to be a success in whatever career avenue they choose.
During his career on the Main Line, he has led the Wildcats to eight NCAA Tournament appearances, national rankings in the Associated Press poll, Big East regular season and tournament championships in both 1985-86 and 1986-87, the 2003 Big East Tournament title, seven outright and four shared Big 5 titles, and fourteen 20-win or better seasons. In addition, one of his players, Shelly Pennefather, was recognized in 1987 as the nation's top women's basketball player, winning the Margaret Wade Trophy and earning Kodak All-America honors.
"This program is something I feel is my own, my own personal project," stated Perretta. "When I got here, there wasn't much to start with. Yet, all the players we have brought in have graduated, we've had All-Americans and gone to the Final Four (1982). The fact that we are considered one of the better teams in the country over the last 30 years makes me proud. I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to coach anywhere but Villanova."
Perretta began his career on the Main Line in 1978 at the age of 22, the youngest coach ever to head a women's program at Villanova. In his first season, he led the 'Cats to a 17-8 record and was a finalist for the AIAW small college coach of the year. During his career, Perretta and the Wildcats have had many highlights, including reaching the Final Four of the AIAW in 1982. The 1982-83 season saw Villanova begin play in NCAA Division I and in the Big East Conference. Since joining the Big East in 1982, Perretta has compiled a 197-162 conference record.
Perretta attended Lycoming College after earning All-Catholic League honors at Monsignor Bonner High School in Upper Darby, Pa. His playing career was cut short, however, by an ankle injury during his freshman year at Lycoming. Perretta spent the remainder of his college years assisting Lycoming's varsity and junior varsity programs as a coach, and he also aided the women's program. He received his bachelor's degree in social studies and a secondary teaching certificate in 1978. In 1995, he earned his Master's Degree in Education from Villanova.
Perretta is married to the former Helen Koskinen and they are the parents of a 10 year old son, Stephen William and an eight-year old son Michael John. Together, they reside in Drexel Hill, Pa.
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