University of Bridgeport Selects Jen Carleton As Purple Knights' Head Women's Basketball and Cross Country Coach

Bridgeport, Conn.- University of Bridgeport Director of Athletics Jay Moran has announced that Jen Carleton has joined the Department of Athletics staff as the head coach of the Purple Knights' women's basketball and cross country programs.  Carleton comes to the University of Bridgeport from Goldey-Beacom College in Wilmington, Delaware, where she has served as the program's head women's basketball coach for the past six seasons amassing a 94-76 career record, including a 20-10 mark last season.  In 2010-11, Carleton led the Lightning to the school's first-ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament.  In the last four seasons, the GBC women's program has posted winning records and improved on their win total in each of those years.  She replaces Stephanie Del Preore who accepted an assistant coaching position at Seton Hall University after serving three seasons as the Purple Knights' head coach.

Said Moran, "We welcome Jen with a great deal of enthusiasm to the University of Bridgeport and our athletic department. She's brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and passion about her sports to UB, and I think she will be a great person to keep our programs moving forward and climbing on all levels from the conference to the NCAAs."

"I welcome the challenge of coming to an outstanding institution and athletic program like the University of Bridgeport," stated Carleton.  "I thank the Bridgeport administration and Athletic Director Jay Moran for offering me this outstanding opportunity. I'd also like to thank all of the many people that helped me at Goldey-Beacom.  I'm ready to hit the ground running and make the Purple Knights one of the top teams in one of the strongest Division II women's basketball conferences in the nation."

Prior to becoming the head coach at Goldey-Beacom, Carleton served as an assistant coach at regional power Holy Family University, and she began her coaching career as an assistant at her alma mater Caldwell College.

A 2003 graduate from Caldwell, Carleton was a member of the Cougars women's basketball team for four years, including the 2003 CACC tournament championship team.  She still ranks second all-time at Caldwell College for three-pointers made in a career. 

Photo by Brendan Cavanaugh/P3 Imaging