Ferne Labati begins her seventh season as the Griffins leader. Labati brings an extraordinary coaching background to Seton Hill. For the 17 years prior to Seton Hill, Labati was the head women’s basketball coach at the University of Miami, FL.
Ferne began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Immaculata College in 1976. Labati’s first head coaching experience was at Trenton State University, where she led Trenton State to the Division III National Tournament and the Division III Elite Eight in their first year of NCAA Championship Play. After five years at Trenton, Labati took over the head coaching position at Farleigh Dickinson for four seasons before moving on to the University of Miami, FL.
Labati led Miami to their first NCAA Tournament bid in 1989 and guided Miami to back-to-back Big East Regular Season and Conference Championships in 1992 and 1993. The Hurricanes reached a final ranking of 6th in the nation in 1993. In her 17 seasons at Miami, the Hurricanes made nine postseason appearances and also had five consecutive 20-win seasons. In 2009-10, Labati recorded her 500th career victory and led the Griffins to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance where they advanced to the Regional Semifinal.
Over her 32 year coaching career, Labati has a 537-386 record. Ferne has also received many honors during her coaching career including being named WBCA/Converse National Coach of the Year in 1992. She was also named Big East Coach of the Year in 1992. In 2004, Labati was inducted into the University of Miami Athletic Hall of Fame and was named WBCA/Russell Regional Coach of the Year. In 2010-11, Labati was named WVIAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.
Labati has had numerous players play professionally in Europe and as had four players who have played in the WNBA. Of the 48 players at Miami who have completed their eligibility, 46 have earned their degrees. She has coached one Kodak All-American, one Big East Player of the Year, one Big East Rookie of the Year and 19 Big East All-Conference Performers, one ACC First Team Member and ten All WVIAC Team Members.
