Joe Logan Last College: Loyola '96 Position: Head Coach

When Loyola College hired Joe Logan as its 11th head women's basketball coach on May 12, 2005, many people believed success for the program would follow.

Judging from the Greyhounds success in his three seasons at the College, it appears those prognosticators were correct.

In Logan's first three seasons at Loyola, also his first three as a head coach, the Greyhounds have a 51-39 overall record. The team has been even better in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference competition, registering a 32-22 mark (.593). He was recognized by his peers as the MAAC Coach of the Year after going 18-12 in 2006-2007.

Logan's tie to Loyola is more than just as a head coach. The Evergreen campus is also Logan's alma mater and where he met his wife, also an alumna of the college.

"Joe has a passion and a love for Loyola and brings that same passion and love to basketball," Loyola Director of Athletics Joe Boylan said when Logan was hired. "He reminds me of some young coaches I once knew in Philadelphia who have become very successful (Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma & Ohio State Head Coach Jim Foster)."

Logan graduated from Loyola in 1996 and worked as an undergraduate as a manager for the men's basketball team. The coach at the time, the late Skip Prosser, had high praise for Logan when he was hired in May of 2005.

"No one will do a better job of selling Loyola College to potential recruits and their families than Joe," Prosser said. "He believes strongly in what Loyola stands for. He has high character and high energy and always had a passion about the game of basketball. Loyola had great success under Patty Coyle when I was there, Joe can certainly emulate that level of success."

During Logan's tenure as head coach, four Loyola student-athletes have been named to the All-MAAC teams - Lauren Troupe (1st team, 2006), Krystle Harrington (3rd team, 2006), Jill Glessner (1st team, 2007) and Vika Sholokhova (3rd team, 2007).

Two players have also earned MAAC Sixth Player of the Year honors - Jackie Valderas (2006) and Sholokhova (2007). In 2007, Erica DiClemente was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team, and Candice Walker earned MAAC All-Rookie honors following the 2008 campaign.

After the graduation of nine players in Logan's first two seasons, the 2007-2008 Greyhounds were left with a roster of youthful talent. Undeterred, the team jumped out to a 7-3 record in the season's first 10 games with big non-conference wins over Drexel, Villanova, Mount St. Mary's, UMBC and Columbia, as well as a MAAC-opening sweep of Niagara and Canisius.

Injuries, however, dealt the team setbacks after the turning of the calendar, but Logan's club responded, reeling off four-straight wins in February against conference foes. The Greyhounds then won their first game in the MAAC Tournament for the third-straight season.

Logan and his coaching staff guided the Greyhounds to an 18-12 record and third place finish in the MAAC in 2006-2007. The Greyhounds advanced to the MAAC Semifinals for the second-straight season, as well.

The squad achieved consistent success throughout the season that can partially be attributed to considerable balance among scorers. Six players averaged five or more points per game, and eight averaged four or more. During the season, seven players led, or tied for the team-lead, in scoring, and 10 players averaged 10 or more minutes of playing time.

Loyola's 18-12 record came on the heels of a 20-10 record in 2005-2006, Logan's first year as head coach. The 38 wins posted during Logan's tenure are the most in a two-year span at Evergreen since the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 teams won 41.

The 20 wins in 2005-2006 were the most in school history by a first-year women's basketball coach, and the 38 in two years are the most in that span, as well. Anne McCloskey won 33 games during the first two seasons of her tenure that began in 1976.

In his first season, Logan's team achieved the best record for a women's basketball team at Loyola since the 1998-1999 season. The Greyhounds finished third in the MAAC with a record of 13-5, also the best since the 1998-1999 campaign. Loyola's 20 wins are tied for the second most victories in school history.

Logan and the Greyhounds topped Manhattan in the second round of the MAAC Championships after earning a first-round bye, and advanced to face second-seeded Canisius in the semifinals. The Greyhounds upset the Golden Griffins to move on to their first MAAC Championship game since 1998. Despite a loss to Marist in the final game, Logan and the 2005-2006 team fashioned one of the best seasons in school history.

Prior to his arrival as head coach in May of 2005, Logan was not a stranger to the Loyola women's basketball program. He was an assistant with the Greyhounds from 1997-2001 under head coaches Patty Coyle and Cindy Anderson-Griffin. During that time, Loyola posted a 72-43 record, advancing to the MAAC semifinals three times.

As an Loyola assistant, Logan worked in nearly every area of coaching. He was responsible for recruiting, development of Loyola's forwards, film exchange, scouting, travel, monitoring of academic program, camps and fundraising.

As a Loyola undergraduate, Logan also worked as a manager for the Loyola men's basketball team under then-Head Coach Skip Prosser and for the women's squad under Coyle. He traveled with both teams to the NCAA Tournament (1994 with the men and in 1995 with the women).

"I think Loyola College made a great hire in Joe Logan," said Coyle, now the head coach of the WNBA's New York Liberty. "He not only understands the game and understands people but also has a passion for Loyola College that will serve him well as he begins his career as a head coach."

Logan left Loyola in 2001 to be a part of the coaching staff at St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. There, he helped the Hawks to an overall record of 72-53, While Logan was at St. Joe's, the Hawks won two Atlantic 10 Eastern Conference titles and advanced to the Atlantic 10 Finalist appearances twice

The Hawks also made three trips to the WNIT with second round appearances in 2002 and 2003 and an Elite Eight spot in 2004. At St. Joe's, Logan also worked on recruiting, development of the Hawks' forwards, scouting, fundraising and monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes.

"I can't say enough about Joe," St. Joseph's Head Coach Cindy Griffin said when he was hired. "He was successful there as a student and a coach. He brings a wealth of experience to the program. Joe only knows one way and that's to win... to lead Loyola's players to win on the court as well as in the classroom."

Logan has also worked with the NBA and WNBA as an advance scout for the New York Liberty in 1999 and an administrative assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-97. He began his coaching career at Centenary College in New Jersey, an NCAA Division III. There, he was as an assistant coach for the Cyclones men's basketball team from during the 1996-1997 season.

Logan earned his bachelors of arts in history with a minor in business from Loyola in 1996. He is married to the former Susan Bryce (Loyola '98), who was a Greyhounds women's basketball player from 1994-98, and the couple resides in Lancaster, Pa.