A former starting point guard for the New Jersey Gems of the professional Women's Basketball League, Kathy Solano '78, now the head women's basketball coach at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, has distinguished herself as a collegiate basketball player and coach. Solano, the assistant women's basketball coach at Syracuse University this past year, was head women's basketball coach between 1983 and 1992 at NCAA Div. I Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y. Her squads captured Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference titles in 1987 and 1990, while four times finishing among the Top 20 in NCAA Div. I team defense.
In nine seasons, every one of Solano's basketball players earned her degree. Four times, Solano was voted the Metropolitan Collegiate Basketball Coaches Association Div. I Coach of the Year. In 1986-87, she received the Converse-New York State Basketball Coaches Association Div. I Coach of the Year Award.
Solano was assistant athletics director at Manhattan College between 1988-92. From 1978 to 1981, Solano was assistant women's basketball coach and head volleyball coach at C.W. Post College in Greenvale, N.Y. Between 1981 and 1983, Solano took over as head women's basketball coach and assistant women's athletics director. Her 1981-82 basketball unit went 19-15 and won the New York State crown. Her 1982-83 squad, ranked fourth nationally in NCAA Div. II, won the Empire State Conference championship and finished 25-8. Solano was voted the Empire State Conference Coach of the Year in 1983.
As a Cortland undergraduate, Solano, who grew up in Patchogue, N.Y., excelled as a basketball player. Twice named to the All-New York State Tournament Team, she finished her Cortland career with 705 points - third best at the school at the time and ranked 13th among all-time Cortland women's basketball scorers today. She also played softball for the Red Dragons. A Dean's List student all four years, Solano graduated cum laude with a B.S.E. in physical education in 1978.
A highly experienced basketball clinician, Solano competed with the New Jersey Gems in the WBL during the 1978-79 season.
UPDATE- March, 2015: Solano retired from Collegiate Women's Basketball Coaching in 1998 after 20 years at CW Post, Manhattan College, Syracuse, and UMBC. She continues to stay involved by becoming a Youth Soccer Official with the Soccer Association of Columbia from 2000 to 2007. In 2006, she became a part time instructor at George Washington University for Exercise Science for undergraduate courses. In 2009 Solano expanded her career as a part time instructor at Mass College of Liberal Arts in the Education Department teaching graduate courses. She was acknowledged for her accomplishments in December of 2006 when she was elected into the Manhattan College Hall of Fame.
