Iona College women’s basketball head coach Billi Chmabers announced the addition of Mandy Pennewell to her coaching staff as assistant coach in August 2015. She also serves as the program's recruiting coordinator.
Pennewell was a part of the staff when the program won its first ever MAAC Championship at the 2016 conference championship. Over three seasons she has helped various student-athletes earn All-MAAC recognition; Alexis Lewis and Marina Lizarazu were named to the All-MAAC First Team in 2017. Lewis was also named the MAAC Co-Sixth Player of the Year in 2016 in addition to being a member to the All-MAAC Rookie Team. In 2018, rookie Toyosi Abiola was voted the unanimous MAAC Rookie of the Year and MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree. Lewis also garnered All-MAAC Third Team honors.
Pennewell most recently served as the recruiting coordinator at Southern New Hampshire University. Her primary responsibilities included coordinating yearly recruiting schedules, evaluating student-athletes that fit the needs of the program, developing relationships with prospective student-athletes. In addition, she was responsible for monitoring the academic success of the team, the off-season player development plan with guards as well as the coordination of team travel and team meals.
Prior to working at SNHU, Pennewell spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. In 2012-13, she served as the team’s interim head coach for the final eight games and into the team’s offseason activities. With the Dolphins, she planned, organized, and coordinated practices, assisted in recruitment of prospective student athletes, and developed offseason workouts.
On the court, Pennewell was a three-year starter at Quinnipiac University. She earned Northeast Conference Second Team honors as a junior after averaging 13.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, leading the team to a 25-6 record and WNIT appearance. Pennewell, a two-year captain, wrapped up her time at Quinnipiac 12th in career scoring and currently sits 14th all-time with 1,231 career points in over 100 games played.
A West Chester, PA native, Pennewell attended Villa Maria Academy in Malvern, PA where she was a First Team All-State selection as a senior. Over her high school career, she led the school to a State Eastern final, two league championships, three district championships and four state tournament appearances.
Pennewell has a bachelor of arts in sociology from Quinnipiac University, and a master’s of science in sport management/athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire.
