Suffolk Names Alison Chernow Women's Basketball Coach
Chernow succeeds Ed Leyden, who retired after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in 29 seasons.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball
Suffolk women's basketball has hired Alison Chernow as head coach following the retirement of Ed Leyden. The program missed the postseason last year for the first time in 29 seasons after finishing 12-13 overall and 6-10 in conference play.
Why it matters
The coaching change marks a new chapter for a program that had long been a consistent presence in the conference playoffs. Chernow's arrival puts a fresh staff in charge of rebuilding after the graduation of leading scorer Alison Bono.
Jordan Moreau averaged 12 points per game and Tatiana Tune posted 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game last season. Alison Bono, who averaged 7.8 rebounds per game and ranked in the conference's top five, has graduated, and the data does not yet show how her production will be replaced.
The players
Alison Chernow
Chernow is a coach with prior head coaching experience at Wheaton College and recent assistant work at Lehigh University.
Ed Leyden
Leyden led Suffolk women's basketball as head coach before retiring.
The details
Chernow joins Suffolk after two seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lehigh University. She previously served as head coach at Wheaton College, including one season as interim head coach. Suffolk ranked second in the conference in rebounds per game last season, and Olivia Verdile averaged 7.6 points per game while shooting 30% from three-point range.
Timeline
Suffolk opens its season against MIT on November 7, 2026.
Season Trajectory
The end of Suffolk's 29-season playoff streak leaves the program trying to return to the CNE postseason under a new coach. Chernow's first season will determine whether the team can recover the offensive production it lost with Bono's graduation.
Fantasy and bracket watchers tracking the conference should note that Suffolk's leading scorer has graduated and the rotation is in flux. Local fans can follow Suffolk's first home slate under Chernow to see how the offense is taking shape.
The takeaway
Programs that lose a long-standing leader often see the most change in their first season under new staff. Suffolk's early results under Chernow will show whether rebuilding the offense and returning to the playoffs is realistic.
What happens next
Suffolk opens its season versus MIT on November 7, 2026, the first game under Chernow.
Further reading
Follow the latest from the Basketball section for more context on programs like Suffolk's.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Suffolk Journal.
