Colleen Mullen was officially reintroduced to Rhode Island as the program’s 10th head coach on Tuesday in a press conference at the Ryan Center.
“It’s truly a privilege and an honor to be chosen to lead this program,” Mullen said. “Being back on campus, it’s so familiar, a lot of memories coming back.”
Director of Athletics Pat Lyons worked quickly to replace former head coach Tammi Reiss after she departed for the University of Florida, landing on Mullen after a six-day search.
“Right when we started the search, we immediately reached out to Colleen,” Lyons said. “We knew right away Colleen was going to be someone that we wanted to really give a hard look to.”
It was a broader search than most, according to Lyons. With seven to eight candidates being considered for the opening, Mullen was the “total package.”
“We interviewed some really good candidates,” Lyons said. “If there’s one candidate that just hits all the right points, and that was Colleen. We’re absolutely thrilled.”
After being hired on March 29, Mullen immediately focused on roster retention following this year’s historic season. With the transfer portal opened on Monday, the work is well underway to build next year’s team to sustain the program’s success.
“What they did this year is truly remarkable,” Mullen said. “I’m really excited to start that new chapter with some of the players that have decided to stay.”
Lyons and University President Marc Parlange welcomed Mullen to the podium, presenting her with a jersey to commemorate the day.
“URI women’s basketball right now is very clearly at the top of the A-10, and we plan to stay there,” Parlange said. “I hope that the presidents of the other A-10 universities who are watching this morning also understand that we are here.”
The commemorative jersey was an update from the one that Mullen wore with the Rams for two seasons as a player from 1998 to 2000. Returning to Kingston was a major factor in her decision to leave the University at Albany after eight seasons and a successful track record.
“The grass isn’t always greener,” Mullen said. “For me, I’ve been very selective in the process. Rhode Island has always been near and dear in my heart after being a student-athlete here.”
Mullen got her first taste of Kingston this past season on Nov. 15, 2025, as her Great Danes fell to the Rams 64-52.
“The experience and the environment of the Ryan Center was electric,” Mullen said. “Coming into the Ryan Center for my first time since being back here truly was an amazing, amazing, eye-opening experience of the support and excitement for the program.”
Facilities like the Ryan Center and the recently renovated Soloviev Basketball Practice Facility are major upgrades from the Keaney Gymnasium, which housed both basketball programs in her playing days.
“It was really impressive,” Mullen said. “There’s so much nostalgia and just appreciation for what this sport has provided for me and where it’s taken me. Truly, truly blessed to be able to come back here and finish something I started.”
Among those in attendance for the press conference were Rhode Island first-year guard Amori Jarrett and UAlbany first-year forward Amaya Stewart, who entered the transfer portal after an America East Sixth Player and Rookie of the Year season.
In her introduction, Mullen made it clear that her team would remain active members of the community and have a culture that isn’t identical but draws strong similarities to what Reiss had established in her seven seasons at Rhode Island.
“We play a very similar offensive style, defensive style, our cultures are predicated on competitive spirit and hard work,” Mullen said. “I think that certainly has worked to our benefit to retain the current roster.”
With a winning culture established, Rhode Island has continually grown as a destination for players in the transfer portal.
“It’s an institution, and it’s a basketball program that people are excited about and want to be a part of,” Mullen said. “That’s a huge piece to continuing the success that Tammi and her staff have had.”
Reiss left the program at the peak of its success, following a second-ever March Madness appearance after the program’s first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament title.
“I’m super excited for the momentum of this program,” Mullen said. “I want to really thank Tammi Reiss and her staff for building this program into an Atlantic 10 powerhouse.”
The two were able to talk in Phoenix, according to Mullen. With both in attendance for the NCAA Women’s Final Four and National Championship over the weekend. Reiss also publicly supported her successor on X following the press conference.
“She just offered to help in any way she could, and was excited for the opportunity for me to be the next head coach,” Mullen said. “I told her, and I promised that I would take care of her players and I would work as hard as I could to maintain the level of success that she’s had.”
