HAMILTON – A veteran leader with nearly two decades of Division I coaching experience, Shannon Bush has been named the new Colgate women's basketball head coach, announced Monday afternoon by Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir '01. 

Bush, a two-time Patriot League champion during her playing career at Holy Cross, comes to Colgate after serving last season as an associate head coach at Cornell. Before returning to the Northeast, she had successful stops at Fresno State, Siena, Vermont, and Sacred Heart, aiding the development of more than 40 All-Conference honorees dating back to 2006.

"We are incredibly excited to welcome Coach Bush to Colgate," Amir said. "She is a proven recruiter, tactician, developer of staff, and leader of young women. She has left her mark on each program she has been a part of, and is ready to take this next step to become a head coach. Our program has made great strides over the last few years and I believe that trajectory will continue with Coach Bush at the helm."

Throughout her coaching career, Bush has guided 41 All-Conference selections, headlined by three Players of the Year, two Rookies of the Year, and two Defensive Players of the Year. She has helped lead her teams to four conference tournament championship games, four regular-season crowns, and an NCAA appearance.

"I am exceedingly grateful to Colgate University President Brian Casey, Vice President and Director of Athletics Yariv Amir, and the search committee for this immense opportunity to serve as the head women's basketball coach at Colgate University," Bush said. "I am eager to get to work and develop relationships with the team, across campus and within the athletic department. We will build upon the recent successes of the program and strive to achieve at an even greater level on the court, in the classroom and in the Hamilton community."

Assistant Coach at Fresno State (2017-2024)

Bush coached seven seasons as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Fresno State (2017-2024), where she developed 14 All-Conference selections in the Mountain West, including two Players of the Year, a Defensive Player of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. She helped lead Fresno State to two Mountain West tournament title games, highlighted by the 2019-20 team that earned the top seed in the conference tournament behind a 25-7 overall record and 16-2 league mark. 

Bush aided the development of Haley Cavinder (16.0) and Hanna Cavinder (15.7), who became the first first-years since 2014 to be included on the All-Mountain West team. Haley was awarded the conference's Freshman of the Year, the program's third player to earn the honor in Fresno State's 50-plus-year history, and is one of two players in Mountain West history to land preseason and postseason Freshman of the Year. 

In 2018-2019, Bush's guards ranked first, third, and fourth on the team in scoring. Candice White, a semifinalist for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as one of the top 10 shooting guards in the country, led the Mountain West in scoring at 18.4 points per game en route to earning All-Mountain West honors.

Assistant Coach at Siena (2015-17)

Before arriving at Fresno State, Bush coached two seasons at Siena (2015-2017), where she helped the Saints win 13 conference games in 2016-17 for only the second time since 2004. The Saints received the No. 4 seed in the MAAC tournament while tying for third in the standings, the highest seeding for the program since 2011.

Assistant Coach at Vermont (2010-15)

She was an assistant coach at Vermont from 2010-15 and was instrumental in bringing in some of the top recruiting classes in Catamount history. Vermont boasted the America East's top recruiting classes in both 2011 and 2012, with the 2012 class marking the first top-100-ranked recruiting class in program history. In all, Bush mentored four All-Rookie team selections.  

Assistant Coach at Sacred Heart (2006-10)

Bush began her coaching career as an assistant at Sacred Heart from 2006-10, where she helped guide the Pioneers to 19-plus wins in each of her four seasons and 85 total victories. Sacred Heart won two Northeast Conference regular-season titles (2007, 2009) during her tenure, highlighted by the 2008-09 team going undefeated in conference play en route to winning the NEC tournament title and securing an NCAA tournament appearance. 

Playing Career at Holy Cross (2002-06)

A native of Doylestown, Pa., Bush appeared in 111 games at Holy Cross from 2002-06. Bush was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie team following the 2002-03 season and was named team captain prior to her senior year. During Bush's four years, the Crusaders captured Patriot League championships making NCAA tournament appearances in both 2003 and 2005.

Education
Bush graduated from Holy Cross in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in History before earning her Master's degree in Teaching from Sacred Heart in 2008.