Colleen Mullen has been named as the University of Rhode Island's women's basketball head coach, URI Vice President and Director of Athletics
Pat Lyons announced on March 29.
The 2025 America East Coach of the Year, Mullen comes to Kingston off a highly successful eight-year run with UAlbany. She led the Great Danes to four consecutive national postseason appearances and four straight 20-win seasons from 2021-25. Over her last five seasons with UAlbany, Mullen had an overall record of 110-50, including a 59-24 record in league play and a 65-11 mark at home.
Among her victories with the Great Danes were wins over Syracuse, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Seton Hall.
Over her last 15 seasons as a coach - eight as the UAlbany head coach and seven on the Army staff - Mullen's teams had a combined record of 291-169. With the Great Danes, Mullen led the team to one America East title and an NCAA Championship appearance, as well as two WNIT bids, and a berth in the WBIT. She had an overall record of 139-102 with UAlbany.
While at Army, Mullen was the associate head coach for seven seasons. In that time, the team won two Patriot League titles, earned two NCAA Championship bids and went to the WNIT twice.
"Colleen Mullen is a proven winner who will help ensure that Rhode Island women's basketball remains at the top of the Atlantic 10," Lyons said. "She has thrived throughout her career in player development on and off the court. Her basketball record speaks for itself, and her ability to connect with student-athletics to help them reach their fullest potential in all areas is exceptional. I am thrilled to have her lead our program."
In addition to team success, Mullen has a penchant for player recruitment and development. In eight seasons at UAlbany, she had 17 all-conference selections, six all-rookie team selections, five academic all-conference selections and four all-defensive team honorees.
She coached 2024-25 America East Player of the Year Kayla Cooper, as well as 2022-23 America East Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year Helene Haegerstand. Also in 2022-23, Grace Heeps was recognized as the America East Elite-18 Award winner as the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average competing in the championship of their respective sport. While at Army, Mullen recruited Kelsey Minato, arguably the greatest player in Patriot League history. Minato scored 2,556 points and averaged 20.1 points per game over four seasons.
"I am honored and excited to be named the next head coach at URI," Mullen said. "My family and I are thrilled to join the Rhode Island community. I would like to thank URI President Marc Parlange,
Pat Lyons,
Brittney Miles, and
Gina Sperry for their belief in me and the opportunity to lead this program.
"I look forward to building on the program's success, competing for championships, and making our fans, university, and alumni proud to be Rhody Rams. Our championship culture will be defined by a commitment to excellence in everything we do; on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. I'm excited to get to work and begin the next chapter of Rhody Women's Basketball."
In each of the last five seasons, Mullen's team was ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense. The Great Danes were 10th in 2025-26; seventh in 2024-25; first in 2023-24; 14th in 2022-23 and second overall in 2021-22.
This season, Mullen was in a rebuild after graduating her top five scorers from the 2024-25 team that went 26-7. Despite a new-look roster, UAlbany freshman Amaya Stewart was the America East Rookie of the Year, Sixth Player of the Year and a third-team All-Conference selection. Sophomore Delanie Hill also earned third-team all-conference recognition, while sophomore Martina Borrellas was named to the league's all-defensive team.
Mullen is no stranger to URI. She began her playing career with the Rams, spending two seasons in Kingston (1998-2000) before transferring to New Hampshire.
