The University of Minnesota has announced that ex-St. Thomas head coach Ted Riverso will join Pam Borton's staff as an assistant coach in women's basketball.
“I'm very, very excited about joining Pam's staff,” said Riverso. “It's a great opportunity that I didn't think I'd have — to coach Division I basketball in the Big Ten. I'm looking forward to the chance to work with Pam. I believe it is a great time to be involved in the University's program.”
“Ted is an excellent addition to our staff,” added Borton. “Ted's coaching record speaks for itself and his knowledge of the game will be an invaluable asset to our staff. He's also a proven recruiter with solid ties obviously in the state of Minnesota, but nationally as well. We are thrilled to have him join our staff at Minnesota.”
Riverso's 15-year run produced a remarkable 337-80 record with an NCAA championship, two third-place national finishes and five conference crowns. Riverso's last 13 Tommie teams had 13 NCAA playoff trips and all won 19 or more games. He left coaching in 1999 and in the seven years since has worked in the university's development office.
Riverso guided St. Thomas to Division III's best record in the 1990s (247-37, .870). In that decade UST won the 1991 national title and played in three D-III Final Fours; won four MIAC Championships during a six-year span from 1995 to 2000; had 12 players receive All-America mention; and had seven MIAC Player of the Year honorees.
Riverso was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He was named the National Coach of the Year by the American Women Sports Federation following the 1991 national title season. He also was a six-time conference Coach of the Year and three-time WBCA/Converse District Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2002.
Riverso is in his 29th year as a Minnesota resident. The Philadelphia native and graduate of Monsignor Bonner High School attended St. Thomas from 1972-74. He returned to Pennsylvania and received a B.A. degree in philosophy from West Chester in 1976 and a master's degree from the same institution in 1978.
He's worked as a development officer at the university the last seven years. He was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
Riverso's 337-80 won-loss record (.808 winning percentage) at St. Thomas included a 260-50 record in conference play (.838).
His St. Thomas teams earned 12 consecutive NCAA playoff berths and reached the round of 16 in 10 of those 12 appearances. The Tommies had three national Final Four trips, two other NCAA Elite Eight trips and five other Sweet Sixteen appearances. His teams set an NCAA Division III record for consecutive wins (since broken) of 40 from 1991-92.
Riverso was an assistant coach last season at Benilde-St. Margaret's HS, where his daughter played, and as part of a Class AAA state championship team.