Kelly Morrone to Debut as UAlbany Head Coach

The new UAlbany coach will lead the women's basketball team against Northeastern on November 2, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Basketball

Kelly Morrone to Debut as UAlbany Head Coach

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Kelly Morrone makes her debut as the head coach of the UAlbany women's basketball team on November 2, 2026. She takes the helm as the squad faces Northeastern in a season-opening matchup in Boston.

Why it matters

The program enters a rebuilding phase after finishing tied for seventh in the America East last season. Coach Morrone faces the challenge of integrating a roster dominated by new arrivals as the team aims to improve upon its seventh-place preseason poll projection.

The UAlbany roster consists of 12 new team members and only two returning players. The team enters the season ranked seventh in the preseason poll out of nine total teams in the America East.

The players

Kelly Morrone

She is the newly appointed head coach for the UAlbany women's basketball team.

Colleen Mullen

She previously served as the head coach of the UAlbany women's basketball program.

Madison Roman

She is a player who transferred to the UAlbany program from Merrimack.

The details

Coach Kelly Morrone takes over the program from former head coach Colleen Mullen, prioritizing team execution and communication to integrate the large influx of new talent. Among the newcomers is Madison Roman, who joined the team as a transfer from Merrimack.

The team last saw a change in head leadership in 2018.
Kelly Morrone debuts as head coach on November 2, 2026.
The season-opening game against Northeastern tips off in Boston on November 2, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.

Season Trajectory

This coaching debut follows the team's last leadership change in 2018, marking a significant reset for the program. The successful integration of the 12 newcomers will determine if UAlbany can outperform its seventh-place preseason ranking within the America East.

Fans will see immediate changes in rotation and team chemistry due to the heavy reliance on 12 new roster additions. The season-opening performance in Boston will serve as the first statistical benchmark for how Morrone's game plans translate to the conference standings.

The takeaway

The team's performance this year hinges on how quickly a roster with only two returners can adapt to a new coaching philosophy. Focus on early-season defensive communication as a key indicator for how this group will compete against established conference rivals.