Notre Dame women's basketball hires assistant, announces schedule add
· Yahoo Sports
June 5 was quite the Friday morning for Notre Dame women's basketball news.
First, the Irish announced the hiring of Jared Newson as their director of player development and an assistant coach, replacing seven-year assistant Michaela Mabrey.
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This is Newson's first collegiate coaching job. His most recent position was as the Director of Basketball for Phantom BC, one of eight teams in a professional three-on-three women's basketball league founded in 2023 by WNBA All-Stars Brenna Stewart and Napheesa Collier. Phantom BC made the Unrivaled Championship last season, led by notable WNBA All-Stars like Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Plum, Satou Sabally, Natasha Cloud and Kiki Iriafen.
Newson played college basketball at UT Martin from 2003-06, where he was a two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference nominee and eventually enshrined in the Skyhawks' Athletics Hall of Fame. Afterward, Newson spent more than a decade playing professionally.
According to a Notre Dame press release, Newson's professional career was spent primarily in Europe, including Germany, Poland, Finland, France, as well as Australia and Puerto Rico. He also played in the NBA D-League (now G-League) for the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Bakersfield Jam in 2009-10, and he attended Dallas Mavericks training camp in 2007.
"He brings a wealth of experience, a strong work ethic and a proven ability to develop talent. Jared is detail-oriented and knowledgeable, and he is a perfect fit for our staff," head coach Niele Ivey said in a press release.
Ivey's coaching staff now includes Newson, associate head coach Carol Owens, assistant Charel Allen and assistant Carlos Knox.
Notre Dame heads to the Music City for ACC/SEC Challenge
When the No. 6 seed Irish played No. 2 seed Vanderbilt in the 2026 March Madness Sweet Sixteen March 27 in Fort Worth, Hannah Hidalgo had the most important game of her acclaimed collegiate career. The 2025-26 Naismith Women's College Defensive Player of the Year dropped a 31-point, 11-rebound and 10-steal triple-double, and she came just three assists away from the first quadruple-double in NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament history.
Oh yeah, and Notre Dame won 67-64 to make its first Elite Eight since 2019.
The Irish vs. Commodores rematch — and Hidalgo vs. 2025-26 SEC Player of the Year Mikayla Blakes rematch — is now set for Thursday, Dec. 3 at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Neither a tip-off time nor broadcast option has been announced.
A new-look Irish squad will take the court with Hidalgo leading the way alongside graduate transfer (Princeton) Madison St. Rose, senior Kelly Ratigan, junior transfer (Louisville) Anaya Hardy, redshirt freshman Leah Macy, and five SportsCenter NEXT 100 freshmen Jacy Abii, Jenica Lewis, Amari Byles, Bella Ragone and Isabella Sangha. Notre Dame is 5-1 in its all-time series vs. Vanderbilt.
Kyle Smedley is a sports reporter at the South Bend Tribune. Contact him via email at [email protected] or follow him on X @KyleMSmedley.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame women's basketball plays Vanderbilt in 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge