It is the end of an era for Princeton women's basketball.
After seven years, women’s basketball head coach Carla Berube has left the program after accepting a head coaching position at Northwestern University. Princeton stated its search for a new head coach has already begun.
“It’s incredibly difficult to put into words what these past seven years at Princeton have meant to me and my family,” Berube said in a statement late Wednesday afternoon. “This place, this community, and this program have impacted me more than words can express.”
Berube’s announcement comes on the heels of a very successful season that saw the Tigers win 24 games, which was enough to claim the Ivy League regular season. The postseason was a success as well, with Princeton beating Harvard for the Ivy League Tournament title en route to an impressive seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The No. 9 seeded Tigers ultimately fell in the first round of March Madness to the No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowgirls, their third straight loss in the first game of the NCAA Tournament. Nevertheless, seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances is no small feat, especially for a mid major team like Princeton.
Berube joins a Northwestern squad that had a much different season than the Tigers. The Wildcats went just 8–21 overall and finished second to last in the Big Ten with a 2–16 conference record, compared to Princeton's 26–4 overall and 12–2 Ivy League record. Berube has a tall task ahead of her, but if her tenure at Princeton is any indicator, Northwestern is in good hands.
“I am thankful to Carla Berube for everything she has given to Princeton University and Princeton women’s basketball over her seven years as a Tiger,” Ford Family Director of Athletics John Mack ’00 said in a statement posted by Princeton Athletics. “She, her coaches and her student-athletes have represented Princeton at a high standard on and off the court, continuing the program’s reign not only atop the Ivy League but among the nation’s elite teams.”
In her time as head coach, Berube led Princeton to five Ivy League championships in six years, adding two NCAA Tournament victories against the No. 6 seed Kentucky in 2022 and No. 7 seed N.C. State in 2023.
“Everyone associated with Princeton Athletics is grateful for the special moments shared and the championships won in Jadwin and arenas across the country over the past seven years,” Mack said.
“I will always carry Princeton with me, and I am forever grateful for the trust, memories, and love that this program has given me,” Berube wrote.
Doug Schwartz is a head Sports editor at the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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