Director of Athletics Ryan Bamford announced Mike Leflar as the next head coach of the University of Massachusetts women’s basketball program on April 10.

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“I am thrilled to promote associate head coach Mike Leflar to serve as our Massachusetts women’s basketball head coach,” said Bamford. “Mike has been an integral part of our success since his arrival in 2018. His efforts have contributed to the winningest era in program history and we feel strongly that he is the ideal leader to both support the personal development of our student-athletes and to continue the program’s ascent competitively. Mike is an experienced tactician, a passionate and genuine recruiter and someone we have watched build impactful relationships within our department and throughout the UMass athletics community.”

Leflar was officially introduced as the next head coach of the Massachusetts women’s basketball program at a press conference April 12.

Leflar assumes his new role with 20 years of collegiate coaching experience with the previous five seasons coming at UMass, including the past season and a half as the program’s associate head coach.

“I am honored and grateful to be the next head coach of the University of Massachusetts women’s basketball program,” Leflar said. “A special thanks to Director of Athletics, Ryan Bamford, and Deputy Director of Athletics, Kirsten Britton, for their support throughout this process and their confidence in me moving forward. This is a professional dream come true. The past five years at UMass have been extraordinary for my family and I. We had historic success on the court. More importantly, we built great relationships with our student-athletes and the surrounding community and we are excited to call UMass home for many years to come. I want our student-athletes to love their entire UMass experience and I am excited for that responsibility starting today.”

Leflar joined the Massachusetts women’s basketball family as an assistant coach beginning with the 2018-19 season and was then promoted to the role of associate head coach in December of 2021.

Read the full announcement of Leflar’s promotion to head coach at UMassAthletics.com.