Colleen Mullen Joins The Northern Illinois Women’s Basketball Staff As Director of Operations

DeKALB, IL – Northern Illinois University head women’s basketball coach Carol Hammerle announced the hiring of former New Hampshire University standout Colleen Mullen as the program’s director of basketball operations on Thursday.

A native of Chelmsford, MA, Mullen comes to Northern Illinois after spending two seasons as the starting point guard at New Hampshire, leading the Wildcats to an upper division finish in the America East Conference as a senior (2002-03). During her two seasons in Durham, NH, Mullen started 57-of-58 games at the point and led the team in assists 23 times during her final campaign, including a career high 10 dimes on Feb. 2, 2003, at Stony Brook. Her 133 assists as a senior rank third in New Hampshire single-season history, while her 217 career assists over the two seasons ranks No. 12 in the school’s annuals. An outstanding perimeter shooter, Mullen finished second on the team in three-point makes as a senior (42) and her scoring average of 7.8 points ranked fifth on the squad.

“Colleen brings a great deal to our program,” Hammerle said. “Having played under two head coaches and being a former Division I player, she has a great deal of insight with regards to college basketball. Although her role is strictly in an administrative capacity, her past experiences will benefit this staff and this program.”

The 5-foot-4 guard began her collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island where she served as the Rams’ starting point guard for two seasons. Second on the team in scoring (9.5 ppg.) as a sophomore, Mullen led Rhode Island in assists for two seasons before transferring to New Hampshire after the 1999-2000 ledger.

“The opportunity to begin my coaching career under Carol Hammerle is a real privilege,” Mullen said. “Her accomplishments speak for themselves. The respect she has in this profession, the winning percentage she has accumulated and the tradition of this Northern Illinois program makes this an outstanding opportunity. It’s exciting to be a part of this program.”

A 2003 graduate of New Hampshire, Mullen earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and spent one year as a human resource representative at KEMA Inc., in Burlington, MA. During that season away from basketball, Mullen provided expert analysis for the UNH Radio Network during women’s basketball broadcasts.

Mullen replaces former director of basketball operations Stacy Krueger, who left NIU in June to become an assistant coach with the Youngstown State University women’s basketball program.

##GO HUSKIES##