After guiding the Hawks to new heights during her rookie season, Melissa Graham is eager to start her second season as the women’s basketball head coach this 2016-17 academic year.
Graham, leading the program through a culture change, lifted the Hawks to an 11-14 overall record and matched the Division III program’s most wins in a single season dating back to the 2003-04 season. The women’s team also set a new Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) win record – 7-11 – and finished in 7th place, one spot away from qualifying for post-season play.
The Hawks suffered four league losses by four-points or less which impacted their ability to extend their season into play-offs.
For the first time ever, the women’s basketball team swept both D’Youville and Medaille in the fall semester as the Hawks entered the holiday break with a 6-4 record. Although the Hawks’ offensive punch was similar (57ppg in back-to-back seasons), Graham’s 2015-16 squad cut 15 points-per-game off their opponent’s scoring average from the 2014-15 team (72.83-57.72 ppg). Hilbert, for the first time since joining the AMCC league 12 years earlier, made 35 more field goals and outscored (1447-1443) and outrebounded (1105-855) their opponents.
Graham enjoyed a distinguished and impressive basketball career at SUNY Geneseo. At the conclusion of her final season in 2013, she earned the Geneseo Athletic Department’s Leadership and Contribution Award after she garnered Division III All-American honors, a spot on the D3hoops.com All-Region team and was named as the SUNYAC women’s basketball Player of the Year. She helped guide the Knights to an overall 78-32 record during her days and carried them to two title games, winning the championship in 2011 but falling short in 2013.
Graham tallied 1,042 points, 732 rebound, 295 assists, 156 steals and 115 blocks in 110 collegiate games wearing navy and white. Additionally, she received several individual team awards (MVP, Hustle Award and Defensive MVP) during her four-year, injury-free career as a Knight.
Academically, Graham was a four-time member of the SUNYAC Commissioner’s List/All-Academic Team, and received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, which honors State University of New York students who best demonstrate and are recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives.
Graham’s leadership abilities and work ethic were the perfect fit for the professional expectations and demands that came with her new head coaching position in 2015-16.
The Orchard Park native balanced her graduate studies at SUNY Buffalo along with her role as the Agricultural Policy Advisor for Senator Patrick Gallivan, who represents New York State’s 59th district. She somehow found the energy to serve at her alma mater, Mt. Mercy Academy, as the varsity lacrosse coach as well as an assistant coach to their basketball and soccer teams while coaching a 15U Buffalo Titans AAU team. Additionally, Graham was a graduate assistant within the Hilbert College athletic department for two years providing sports information support and coordinating game-day game management coverage in 2013-14 & 2014-15.
In just her second season as the lacrosse head coach at Mt. Mercy, she transformed the 2015 team (winless for three straight seasons) to an 8-4 record (3rd place) and a program-first appearance in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association play-offs. The following year, Graham guided the team to their first ever Monsignor Martin Athletic championship, with a final record of 15-2/ The Magic’s basketball program recorded 41 wins and 12 losses over the two seasons she was on the sidelines. Mt. Mercy collected a Catholic Class B New York State title in 2014 with an appearance in the NYS Federation tournament and was runner-up in the Monsignor Martin Class A championship game in 2015.
Graham’s involvement in the Geneseo community as an undergrad provided the framework for her success. She was a two-year Resident Assistant, a GOLD Leadership Program peer mentor and served as the co-chairperson for the campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Graham was a guest speaker at local Rotary Club, College Council, Chamber of Commerce and Alumni Council functions and attended several leadership conferences prior to her graduation in 2013.
Graham graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree majoring in biology with a minor in environmental studies and psychology while being named to the Dean’s List five semesters. She recently finished her master’s degree in clinical psychology from the University at Buffalo. Graham’s thesis focused on aggression and impulsivity in athletes, an area of interest she stills studies.
