Haverford College Director of Athletics Wendy Smith ’87 has announced the hiring of Patrick Doherty as head men’s basketball coach. Doherty comes to Haverford after spending eight seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Lafayette College. He has spent the last five years as the top assistant on Fran O’Hanlon’s squad, earning the promotion to associate head coach prior to the 2015-16 season.
“I want to thank Wendy Smith and all the members of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the men’s basketball program at Haverford College,” stated Doherty. “I am grateful and excited for the chance to work with talented student-athletes at one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in the country, and I hope to lead a program that is a source of pride for all members of the Haverford community.”
“After an extremely competitive national search we are excited to have Patrick Doherty joining Haverford’s athletic department as the next head men’s basketball coach,” explained Smith. “Patrick demonstrated enthusiasm for and a clear understanding of the division III student-athlete experience within an academically demanding institution. Coach Doherty’s experiences have prepared him well to support our student-athletes both on and off the court and to meet the challenges of establishing a competitively successful men’s basketball program that will reflect the values of Haverford College within the highly competitive Centennial Conference.”
Working alongside the winningest coach in both Lafayette and Patriot League history, Doherty coached the Leopards to four appearances in the Patriot League Championship game, capped by winning the league title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament during a historic 2014-15 season.
While in Easton, he helped guide 12 All-Patriot League Players, including five first-team all-league selections. Lafayette also had four players named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team while eight of his players were named to Patriot League All-Tournament Team. Combining academic success with his work on the court, nine of his student-athletes earned academic all-league recognition, including multiple honorees in three of the last six seasons the award was presented.
Doherty began his college coaching career during the 2007-08 season as an assistant coach at The College of New Jersey. He also spent one year as an assistant at Williams College where he helped lead the Ephs to the conference semifinals with a 17-9 overall record and a 6-3 mark in the NESCAC. Doherty started his coaching career at Central Bucks East High School in Doylestown, Pa. as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach for two seasons.
Additionally, Doherty has worked with the Hoop Group as a coach and site facilitator and also served as a program director for PeacePlayers International in Northern Ireland. PeacePlayers is a non-profit organization that uses the game of basketball to unite and educate children and their communities in areas of the world that are historically characterized by strife. During his time in Northern Ireland, Doherty was a player/coach for Northstar Basketball Club.
Doherty graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lafayette in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and Spanish. He was selected as a Marquis Scholar – the College’s highest academic scholarship – and joined the basketball team as a walk-on player during the 2000-01 season. Doherty and his wife, Kristin, have two children, Maeve and Connor.
http://www.haverfordathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/20170511dp3ci3
