University of Minnesota Athletics
Ted Riverso Joins Minnesota Women's Basketball Staff
6/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
“I’m very, very excited about joining Pam’s staff,” said Riverso. “It’s a great opportunity that I didn’t think I’d have to coach Division I basketball in the Big Ten. I’m looking forward to the chance to work with Pam. I believe it is a great time to be involved in the University’s program.”
“Ted is an excellent addition to our staff,” added Borton. “Ted’s coaching record speaks for itself and his knowledge of the game will be an invaluable asset to our staff. He’s also a proven recruiter with solid ties obviously in the state of Minnesota, but nationally as well. We are thrilled to have him join our staff at Minnesota.”
Riverso's 15-year run with the Tommies produced a remarkable 337-80 record with an NCAA championship, two third-place national finishes and five conference crowns. Riverso's last 13 Tommie teams had 13 NCAA playoff trips, 11 top-two conference finishes and all won 19 or more games.
Riverso guided St. Thomas to Division III's second best record in the 1990s (247-37, .870). In that decade UST won the 1991 national title and played in three NCAA III Final Fours; won four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships during a six-year span from 1995 to 2000; had 12 players receive All-America mention; and had seven MIAC Player of the Year honorees.
Riverso was inducted into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. He was named the National Coach of the Year by the American Women Sports Federation (AWSF) following the 1991 national title season. He also was a six-time conference Coach of the Year and three-time Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA)/Converse District Coach of the Year.
Riverso’s St. Thomas teams earned 12 consecutive NCAA playoff berths and reached the round of 16 in 10 of those 12 appearances. His teams set an NCAA Division III record for consecutive wins (since broken) of 40 from 1991-92; set conference records for consecutive regular-season victories (60, from 1995-98); consecutive road wins (40, 1995-99); and consecutive wins versus conference opponents (65).
Riverso helped develop eight players -- all Minnesotans -- who went on to receive Division III first-team or honorable mention All-America honors a total of 15 times.
Riverso retired from coaching in 1999, staying at St. Thomas as a Senior Development Officer. In 2003, he added the duties of the Director of Development for Intercollegiate Athletics.
While working in development at St. Thomas, Riverso remained active in the coaching ranks. Last season, he was an assistant at Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, helping the team, of which his daughter Mary was a member, to the Minnesota Class AAA state title.
Riverso, a Philadelphia native, graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy from West Chester University (Pa.).
Riverso is the father of three children: T.J. (19), Mary (17) and Anna (15).
