Fairfield, Conn. – Former Hofstra Women's Basketball assistant coach Jessica Mannetti was named the head women's basketball coach at Sacred Heart at a press conference on Tuesday morning. Mannetti becomes the eighth head coach in SHU women's basketball history and just the second since the program moved to Division I.

Mannetti, who resigned her position at Hofstra to take the job with the Pioneers, was introduced by Sacred Heart Executive Director of Athletics Bobby Valentine. Hofstra head women's basketball coach Krista Kilburn-Steveskey was in attendance along with members of her coaching staff.

Mannetti comes to Sacred Heart after serving four seasons as an assistant coach at Hofstra, where she helped lead the Pride to two WNIT appearances, including a first-round win over Penn State in 2010. Hofstra was 72-55 with her on the staff.

During her time at Hofstra, Mannetti helped develop conference award winners, including 2013 Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year Candace Bond and three-time All-America selection Shante Evans.

A Fairfield County native, Mannetti is returning home and will lead a Sacred Heart team that finished 22-11 in 2012-13.