Colleen Mullen’s collegiate playing career began at the University of Rhode Island in 1998, and now her collegiate coaching career will continue there.
Vice President and Director of Athletics Pat Lyons announced Sunday that Mullen will become URI’s next women’s basketball head coach after eight seasons leading the University at Albany.
The new coach signed a five-year contract, according to The Providence Journal. The deal is set to start at a base salary of $400,000, increasing annually by $10,000. Rhode Island also had to pay an undisclosed amount to buy out the last two years of Mullen’s contract with UAlbany.
A Massachusetts native, Mullen played her first two seasons as a point guard for Rhode Island before transferring to the University of New Hampshire.
The announcement comes six days after the team’s winningest coach, Tammi Reiss, stepped down. Reiss left for the University of Florida, but left a program at the peak of its success after Rhode Island’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in three decades.
“My family and I are thrilled to join the Rhode Island community,” Mullen said in a statement. “I look forward to building on the program’s success, competing for championships and making our fans, university and alumni proud to be Rhody Rams.”
Mullen coached the Great Danes to four straight 20-win seasons from 2021-25, appearing in a national postseason tournament each year with two regular-season titles. In 2022, her team advanced to March Madness after winning the America East Conference Tournament.
“Her basketball record speaks for itself, and her ability to connect with student-athletes to help them reach their fullest potential in all areas is exceptional,” Lyons said in a statement. “I am thrilled to have her lead our program.”
She was named 2025’s America East Coach of the Year as her team went 26-7 and 14-2 in conference. The Great Danes opened that season with a win over the Rams. Rhode Island took the rematch this season at the Ryan Center against a rebuilding UAlbany.
The Great Danes finished 4-12 in conference play in her final season, the worst record under Mullen after the team’s top five scorers graduated the year before. Still, she had some promising players who could potentially play for her at Rhode Island.
First-year forward Amaya Stewart was named the America East Rookie of the Year and Sixth Woman of the Year after averaging 12.2 points per game, while second-year guard Delanie Hill led the team in scoring with 14 points per game and earned third-team all-conference honors.
Both could boost Rhode Island’s roster, as retaining current players remains a major question mark. Second-year center Albina Syla and first-year guard Vanessa Harris top the list of talent recruited by Reiss that could be major pieces, if Mullen can keep them in Kingston.
A mix of faces from Albany and returners from Kingston could make for a smoother transition than expected. Mullen’s “championship culture” shares strong similarities with what Reiss established and stated repeatedly throughout her tenure at URI.
“Our championship culture will be defined by a commitment to excellence in everything we do; on the court, in the classroom and in the community,” Mullen said in a statement. “I’m excited to get to work and begin the next chapter of Rhody women’s basketball.”
A formal press conference to introduce the new head coach will be announced at a later date.
