Rhode Island women's basketball head coach Tammi Reiss announced the addition of Ali Jaques as Associate Head Coach for the women's basketball staff on May 10, 2024.
Jaques was most recently at George Washington as an associate head coach and has made numerous other stops in her decorated career, including stays at Seton Hall, Siena, and Northwestern. "We are so excited to have someone as experienced and knowledgeable as Ali Jaques join our Women's Basketball Staff," said Reiss. "I've known Ali a long time and she is extremely competitive, a tireless worker and a relentless recruiter. She has had success as both an assistant coach and as a head coach, and her experience will be invaluable to our program. Ali aligns with our mission to develop young women on and off the court to become champions."
Jaques joins the staff at Rhody after serving a second stint with the Bluff & Blue in 2023-24. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Seton Hall for one season under Anthony Bozzella. During her time with the Pirates, the team went 19-15 overall and earned a bid to the 2023 WNIT. Jaques coached a pair of BIG EAST All-Conference players in Lauren Park-Lane (First Team) and Sidney Cooks (Second Team).
Jaques brings head coaching experience to Rhody. Before her time with Seton Hall, she served as head coach of the Siena women's basketball team for eight seasons. Under her direction, the Saints advanced to the championship of the WBI in 2014-15 en route to the team's first winning season in 11 years.
Prior to her tenure as head coach at Siena, she was at Northwestern as associate head coach under Joe McKeown. She spent four years with the Wildcats after spending the 2006-08 seasons with McKeown at George Washington. In her two seasons at GW, the Buff & Blue went 55-11 and made consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. GW was nationally-ranked in both seasons, peaking at No. 8 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll in February 2007.
Jaques has also been on staff at Dayton (2005-06), Furman (2002-05), Sacred Heart (1999-02) and Rider (1998-99).
"Tammi Reiss is a proven winner," said Jaques. "What she has accomplished in her short time at the University of Rhode Island is remarkable. I am grateful she wants me to be a part of her program and look forward to getting to work."
Jaques is a 1998 graduate of New York University, where she was a member of the basketball and soccer teams and made the Dean's List all four years. Jaques led the Violets to the 1997 Division III National Championship, a 1996 Final Four appearance and two Sweet 16's. In her four years NYU posted a 101-15 (.871) record. A two-time Coach's Award recipient, she was named a UAA Honorable Mention All-Association selection during her senior season.
Jaques is married to Marc Rybczyk.
