Pilypaitis joins UVM Coaching Staff - WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-

Former Vermont women's basketball standout Courtnay Pilypaitis '10 will be joining the Catamount coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2012-13 season.  Head coach Lori Gear McBride made the announcement today.
 
"Courtnay's addition completes our coaching staff in a truly dynamic fashion and I couldn't be more thrilled to have her back in Burlington," said Gear McBride.  "We interviewed several outstanding candidates, but Courtnay stood out in every way.  Her knowledge of the game, experience playing in college and internationally, passion for UVM and strong desire to begin coaching creates a foundation that I have no doubt will be the start of a great 'second' career in basketball."
 
Pilypaitis will join the program following her participation in women's basketball with Team Canada at the 2012 Olympic games in London.
 
"I am honored and excited to be able to come back to Vermont and join the program once again. I look forward to helping the Catamounts achieve success on and off the court," said Pilypaitis. "I'd like to thank Coach McBride for giving me the opportunity to begin my coaching career at UVM, which is a special place, and to join the Vermont women's basketball family."
 
In the Olympic Qualifying Tournament finale on July 1 in Turkey, Pilypaitis scored a game-high 21 points and added six assists to lead Canada past Japan, 71-63, and propel the Canadians to their first Olympic berth in 12 years (Sydney, 2000).  Pilypaitis, who was named team MVP, averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and shot 42.3 percent from 3-point range in five games during the tournament. 
 
As a player at Vermont, Pilypaitis put together arguably one of the best careers in a green and gold uniform.  She led UVM to back-to-back America East Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances (2009 & 2010).  She was named the America East Most Outstanding Player of the America East Championship in 2009 and 2010 and was a four-time all-conference selection.  She also led UVM to its first NCAA victory with an upset win over Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
 
As a freshman she was named the America East Rookie of the Year and was a unanimous pick for the all-rookie team.  She followed that up with the America East Player of the Year honor as a sophomore, becoming just the fourth sophomore in league history to win the honor.
 
Pilypaitis finished her career as the only player in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball to record over 1,900 points, 800 rebounds and 600 assists.  She currently is the all-time leader at Vermont in assists (636), 3-point field goals (260), games played (131) and minutes played (4,060).  She also ranks second in steals (279) and third in points (1,993) and rebounds (905).  Pilypaitis is also the only Catamount in the program's history to record a triple-double, doing so three times in her career.
 
Pilypaitis' 260 3-pointers is tops among the all-time America East leaders and her 636 career assists ranks second all-time in the conference.  She is also the only player in America East and UVM women's basketball history with over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
 
Pilypaitis earned a bachelors of science degree in public communications in 2010. 

Following graduation she pursued a professional basketball career, playing two seasons for VICI Kaunas in Lithuania. VICI won back-to-back Lithuanian Cup and BWBL Championships and Pilypaitis was named Eurobasket.com All-Lithuanian and LMKL Import Player of the Year both years.  She was also a two-time all-league selection. 
 
Pilypaitis, a native of Orleans, Ontario, played at St. Peter High School before joining the Catamounts.  She has been a member of the Canadian National Team for the past five years.

---Courtesy University of Vermont Sports Information Dept.