DePaul University Athletics
Jill M. Pizzotti Named DePaul Women’s Basketball Head Coach
4/3/2025 9:10:00 AM | WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Pizzotti named sixth head coach in program history
CHICAGO – Jill M. Pizzotti, a coaching veteran of 30 years, has been named the Head Women's Basketball Coach at DePaul University, Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy announced on Thursday. A proven winner and relentless recruiter, Pizzotti served as DePaul's interim head coach in the 2024-25 season and has been a mainstay on the Blue Demons staff for the past 14 seasons.
Pizzotti, who succeeds Hall of Famer Doug Bruno, is the sixth head coach in the program's history and will be formally introduced at a press conference at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, April 15 with a live stream available on DePaulBlueDemons.com.
"Jill Pizzotti is the right leader at the right time for DePaul Women's Basketball. Her vast experience at the highest levels of the game—both as a head coach and a key figure in high-major programs—sets her apart even before you factor in her longstanding work at DePaul," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy.
"This season, I had the opportunity to see Jill in a new light as Interim Head Coach, and I was especially impressed by her ability to teach, lead, and build consensus among the young women in our program. She knows exactly what it takes to compete at a championship level, and she has the recruiting ability, player development expertise, and motivational leadership to bring the best to Chicago and keep them here. Jill understands the direction this program needs to go, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the championship standard we've come to expect for our women's basketball program at DePaul."
No stranger to the program, Pizzotti has been instrumental in DePaul's sustained success since joining the Blue Demons prior to the 2011-12 campaign. In her time at DePaul, the Blue Demons have rallied six BIG EAST Regular Season Championships and five BIG EAST Tournament titles. Elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2014, Pizzotti has aided the Blue Demons to 10 NCAA Tournament berths since landing in Lincoln Park, including a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances.
As the interim head coach this season, Pizzotti led DePaul to a 13-19 record against a rigorous non-conference schedule. Despite being selected ninth in the conference's preseason coaches' poll, DePaul went 8-10 in the BIG EAST, finishing sixth for the best finish since 2021-22. Graduate forward Jorie Allen earned a trio of honors including All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player.
"I'm thrilled that Jill Pizzotti will remain at DePaul University as our new women's basketball head coach," said DePaul President Robert L. Manuel. "I'm confident that she will be a first-class mentor for our women's basketball student-athletes, coaches and staff, an incredible representative of DePaul and its Catholic, Vincentian mission, and a championship-winning head coach that will enhance our university's reputation as a nationally recognized academic institution that promotes world-class educational opportunities for all our students."
As the program's lead recruiter, Pizzotti has brought in a top-50 class on seven occasions while also signing experienced talent out of the transfer portal. During her tenure, 33 student-athletes have been named an All-BIG EAST Conference performer or to the league's all-tournament team. Pizzotti tutored a trio of guards to BIG EAST Player of the Year honors from 2014-2017 with nine players earning All-America certificates in the past 14 seasons.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the DePaul women's basketball program," Pizzotti said. "Working to fulfill the vision of legendary coach Doug Bruno is an honor. We want to bring DePaul women's basketball back to national prominence and use the energy and momentum in our great sport now to reach new heights."
"I'd like to thank Vice President & Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy and Executive Associate Athletic Director Jill Hollembeak for their support and leadership this past season and I look forward to working with them as we Dream Big within our program. I want to express my admiration, respect, gratitude, and love for Coach Doug Bruno. I am proud to say I was a Doug Bruno camper and am now motivated to carry on his legacy as we strive to compete for BIG EAST Championships and return to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great time to be a DePaul Blue Demon!"
In the classroom, DePaul's teams have been regularly among the nation's best in grade point average having been named to the WBCA Academic Top 25 in six of the last 10 seasons while also collecting the BIG EAST Team Academic Award on 10 occasions. Two Blue Demons were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District in 2025.
Prior to DePaul, Pizzotti was the Manager of Women's College Basketball at Nike between the years of 2005-2010. While at Nike, she served as the liaison between the nation's top teams as well as the Women's Basketball Coaching Association (WBCA) and USA Basketball. Additionally, Pizzotti was as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia from 2010-2011 where the Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Tournament and she aided in the signing of the nations 13th-ranked recruiting class.
Pizzotti spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Saint Louis University from 1995-2005, leading the Billikens to their first postseason appearance in program history. Her 2002-03 team finished with a 17-14 record for a program-best fifth place finish in the Conference USA, while also earning a WNIT bid. Pizzotti departed the post as the second winningest coach in the program's history.
In the early years of her coaching career, Pizzotti had stints as an assistant at Northern Kentucky (1991-92) and Indiana University. She helped the Norse reach the Division II NCAA Tournament in her lone season before aiding the Hoosiers to back-to-back tournament bids in 1994 and 1995.
Off the court, Pizzotti is extremely involved in the coaching community and beyond. She has sat on the WBCA Thirty Under 30 Coaching Panel for the past five years while also being a mentor in the Coach to Coach mentoring program. She served on the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors in 2009 and also served on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors from 2009-2016.
Pizzotti, a Lombard, Ill. native, was a two-year team captain in her playing career at Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). The Redhawks won four conference titles and advanced to the Division II NCAA Tournament four times while posting a 117-31 overall record (.790) in Pizzotti's tenure. After her playing days, Pizzotti spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at SEMO in which the Redhawks continued their winning ways with a pair of league championships and a run to the National Title game in 1991 with a record of 31-4.
Pizzotti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physical Education from SEMO before completing her Master of Arts in Secondary Education Administration two years later.
Ticket Information
Commit to Coach Pizzotti today! DePaul Women's Basketball season ticket and group ticket deposits are on sale now for the 2025-26 season at Wintrust Arena. Placing a deposit secures your spot on the priority list for next season. In addition, ticket holders who place a deposit in April will receive an autographed Coach Pizzotti photocard and be entered to win a signed basketball.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Basketball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Pizzotti, who succeeds Hall of Famer Doug Bruno, is the sixth head coach in the program's history and will be formally introduced at a press conference at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, April 15 with a live stream available on DePaulBlueDemons.com.
"Jill Pizzotti is the right leader at the right time for DePaul Women's Basketball. Her vast experience at the highest levels of the game—both as a head coach and a key figure in high-major programs—sets her apart even before you factor in her longstanding work at DePaul," said Vice President and Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy.
"This season, I had the opportunity to see Jill in a new light as Interim Head Coach, and I was especially impressed by her ability to teach, lead, and build consensus among the young women in our program. She knows exactly what it takes to compete at a championship level, and she has the recruiting ability, player development expertise, and motivational leadership to bring the best to Chicago and keep them here. Jill understands the direction this program needs to go, and I have full confidence in her ability to continue the championship standard we've come to expect for our women's basketball program at DePaul."
No stranger to the program, Pizzotti has been instrumental in DePaul's sustained success since joining the Blue Demons prior to the 2011-12 campaign. In her time at DePaul, the Blue Demons have rallied six BIG EAST Regular Season Championships and five BIG EAST Tournament titles. Elevated to Associate Head Coach in 2014, Pizzotti has aided the Blue Demons to 10 NCAA Tournament berths since landing in Lincoln Park, including a pair of Sweet Sixteen appearances.
As the interim head coach this season, Pizzotti led DePaul to a 13-19 record against a rigorous non-conference schedule. Despite being selected ninth in the conference's preseason coaches' poll, DePaul went 8-10 in the BIG EAST, finishing sixth for the best finish since 2021-22. Graduate forward Jorie Allen earned a trio of honors including All-BIG EAST First Team, BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete of the Year and the BIG EAST's Most Improved Player.
"I'm thrilled that Jill Pizzotti will remain at DePaul University as our new women's basketball head coach," said DePaul President Robert L. Manuel. "I'm confident that she will be a first-class mentor for our women's basketball student-athletes, coaches and staff, an incredible representative of DePaul and its Catholic, Vincentian mission, and a championship-winning head coach that will enhance our university's reputation as a nationally recognized academic institution that promotes world-class educational opportunities for all our students."
As the program's lead recruiter, Pizzotti has brought in a top-50 class on seven occasions while also signing experienced talent out of the transfer portal. During her tenure, 33 student-athletes have been named an All-BIG EAST Conference performer or to the league's all-tournament team. Pizzotti tutored a trio of guards to BIG EAST Player of the Year honors from 2014-2017 with nine players earning All-America certificates in the past 14 seasons.
"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the DePaul women's basketball program," Pizzotti said. "Working to fulfill the vision of legendary coach Doug Bruno is an honor. We want to bring DePaul women's basketball back to national prominence and use the energy and momentum in our great sport now to reach new heights."
"I'd like to thank Vice President & Director of Athletics DeWayne Peevy and Executive Associate Athletic Director Jill Hollembeak for their support and leadership this past season and I look forward to working with them as we Dream Big within our program. I want to express my admiration, respect, gratitude, and love for Coach Doug Bruno. I am proud to say I was a Doug Bruno camper and am now motivated to carry on his legacy as we strive to compete for BIG EAST Championships and return to the NCAA Tournament. This is a great time to be a DePaul Blue Demon!"
In the classroom, DePaul's teams have been regularly among the nation's best in grade point average having been named to the WBCA Academic Top 25 in six of the last 10 seasons while also collecting the BIG EAST Team Academic Award on 10 occasions. Two Blue Demons were named College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District in 2025.
Prior to DePaul, Pizzotti was the Manager of Women's College Basketball at Nike between the years of 2005-2010. While at Nike, she served as the liaison between the nation's top teams as well as the Women's Basketball Coaching Association (WBCA) and USA Basketball. Additionally, Pizzotti was as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at West Virginia from 2010-2011 where the Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Tournament and she aided in the signing of the nations 13th-ranked recruiting class.
Pizzotti spent 10 seasons as the head coach at Saint Louis University from 1995-2005, leading the Billikens to their first postseason appearance in program history. Her 2002-03 team finished with a 17-14 record for a program-best fifth place finish in the Conference USA, while also earning a WNIT bid. Pizzotti departed the post as the second winningest coach in the program's history.
In the early years of her coaching career, Pizzotti had stints as an assistant at Northern Kentucky (1991-92) and Indiana University. She helped the Norse reach the Division II NCAA Tournament in her lone season before aiding the Hoosiers to back-to-back tournament bids in 1994 and 1995.
Off the court, Pizzotti is extremely involved in the coaching community and beyond. She has sat on the WBCA Thirty Under 30 Coaching Panel for the past five years while also being a mentor in the Coach to Coach mentoring program. She served on the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors in 2009 and also served on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund Board of Directors from 2009-2016.
Pizzotti, a Lombard, Ill. native, was a two-year team captain in her playing career at Southeast Missouri State (SEMO). The Redhawks won four conference titles and advanced to the Division II NCAA Tournament four times while posting a 117-31 overall record (.790) in Pizzotti's tenure. After her playing days, Pizzotti spent two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at SEMO in which the Redhawks continued their winning ways with a pair of league championships and a run to the National Title game in 1991 with a record of 31-4.
Pizzotti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physical Education from SEMO before completing her Master of Arts in Secondary Education Administration two years later.
Ticket Information
Commit to Coach Pizzotti today! DePaul Women's Basketball season ticket and group ticket deposits are on sale now for the 2025-26 season at Wintrust Arena. Placing a deposit secures your spot on the priority list for next season. In addition, ticket holders who place a deposit in April will receive an autographed Coach Pizzotti photocard and be entered to win a signed basketball.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Basketball, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
Players Mentioned
F
/ WOMEN'S BASKETBALLDemon Docs: Welcome Head Coach Jill M. Pizzotti
Tuesday, April 29
Episode 19: Jill M. Pizzotti, Women's Basketball Head Coach
Wednesday, April 16
Jill M. Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Tuesday, April 15
DePaul Women's Basketball: Jill Pizzotti Introductory Press Conference
Thursday, April 10