Franciscan University of Steubenville Director of athletics Mike Holmes announced today the hiring of Sean Kirk as the head coach for the women's basketball team. Kirk re-joins the Franciscan coaching staff after a two-year stint at Bryn Athyn College.
"I am excited to come back to Franciscan University," remarked Kirk. "I look at Franciscan as a second home and a place that has helped me grow in my faith. It is a blessing to work at an institution with a strong commitment to their mission and Catholic identity. The best part about the job is the opportunity to form student-athletes in faith and virtue through the sport of basketball."
"What seemed to be a common theme with our committee was the success Sean Kirk had demonstrated with recruiting both in his time here and in his current role at Bryn Athyn," commented Holmes. "His energy is evident, and I feel he will do a tremendous job getting players in here who will complement who we have to move the program in a good direction."
Kirk is the fourth head coach of the women's basketball program since joining the NCAA in 2007. He replaces Suzy Delaney who resigned from the position in March. Delaney went 32-137 in seven seasons.
Kirk returns to his alma mater after spending two years as an assistant coach with the Bryn Athyn men's basketball program. While with the Lions, Kirk helped to recruit student-athletes that lived the mission of Bryn Athyn. He was able to exceed the recruiting goals of the team by bringing in three student-athletes above the goal. Kirk was instrumental in organizing official campus visits as well as coordinating with several different departments across campus. Kirk worked one-on-one with his student-athletes during practices to help develop their civil, moral, and spiritual lives.
Along with his coaching duties, Kirk served as an admissions counselor at Bryn Athyn. As an admissions counselor, Kirk was responsible for recruiting potential students from at least nine different states, and worked to find new partnerships for Bryn Athyn College through high schools, community colleges, and other organizations.
Prior to the move to eastern Pennsylvania, Kirk was an assistant coach with the men's basketball program at Franciscan from 2015 to 2017 and served under current head coach Joe Wallace. Kirk received his master's in business from Franciscan in the spring of 2017 and earned his bachelor of science in management in the spring of 2015. As an assistant coach with the Barons, Kirk helped to bring in the largest recruiting class until that point and planned on-campus visits while working with the financial aid and admission departments.
Kirk also worked as an academic advisor during his first stint at Franciscan and helped freshmen to learn how to manage their time, study habits, and how to be successful in their first year of college away from home.
Kirk will also serve as the Game Day Media Coordinator in the sports information office. Outside of his daily coaching duties, Kirk will assist Mary Raskob, Sports Information Director, in the day-to-day operations of the sports information office along with game day coverage in the fall and spring seasons.
"I understand there will be a lot of work to do moving forward," continued Kirk. "With the national prominence of Franciscan as a university, this program is a sleeping giant and I know this program will succeed. Toughness, energy, and discipline will make up the foundation of our program and I look forward to guiding this program to its success."