Allie Bassetti is in her third season as an assistant coach on the Columbia women's basketball staff. She joined the Lions in June of 2022 after serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s basketball program at Manhattan College from 2016-22.
In Bassetti's two seasons on staff, the Lions have posted a combined record of 51-13 (.797). The 2023-24 season was perhaps the most historic, as Columbia secured its second straight Ivy League Regular Season Championship and earned the program's first bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Lions were an at-large selection to the Big Dance, earning a 12 seed in the First Four after going 23-7 overall with quality non-conference wins against Seton Hall, Villanova, Providence and Memphis. The Lions won a program record 11 straight games at the end of the season, advancing to the Ivy League Tournament Championship for the second time in three seasons.
Bassetti's first season in Morningside Heights saw the Lions win the Ivy League Championship for the first time. After chasing the title for 37 years, Columbia lifted the Farquhar-Baker Trophy for the first time in 2023. They did so in dramatic fashion, defeating Cornell in overtime, 69-64, in the regular season finale on March 4, which also capped a second-straight 12-2 Ivy League season. The Lions went on to finish the year 28-6 overall, setting a program record for wins for the second consecutive season. After defeating FDU, Fordham, Syracuse and Harvard to reach the WNIT's National Semifinals, Columbia pulled off a 77-70 road win at Bowling Green to reach the title game. The Lions were one of the last four teams in the country left playing college basketball when they stepped into historic Allen Fieldhouse on Apriil 1, pushing Kansas to the wire in front of over 11,000 fans.
Bassetti's first year at Columbia also saw the Lions post a program-best 11-2 non-conference record against one of the toughest schedules in the country. Columbia earned quality non-conference road wins over Memphis (Nov. 7), Seton Hall (Nov. 17), Miami (Nov. 27) and UMass (Dec. 10), winning the Miami Thanksgiving Tournament over a Hurricanes team that went on to reach the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. Their non-conference success led to Columbia receiving its first votes in both the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll in program history. They received their first votes in the AP Top 25 on Dec. 12 and went on to receive votes six separate times. Columbia received its first votes in the Coaches Poll on Jan. 3 and received votes for five consecutive weeks.
With one of the nation's top scoring offenses, the Lions outscored Ivy opponents by an average of 18.4 points per game in league play. Overall, they ranked 15th in the country in scoring offense (78.2) and 14th in scoring margin (+14.9). Columbia was also No. 4 in assists per game (18.9), No. 9 in rebounds per game (43.12), No. 12 in 3-pointers made per game (8.9), No. 15 in rebounding margin (+8.0) and boasted one of the top-20 winning percentages in all of women's college basketball (.824).
In six years at Manhattan College, Bassetti helped head coach Heather Vulin develop a team that won eight games during her first season into a 21-game winner in the 2021-22 campaign. Bassetti was promoted to the roles of recruiting coordinator and defensive coordinator in 2019. In those new roles, she was responsible for managing and delegating all of the program’s recruiting efforts, as well as designing and implementing specific practice plans, film sessions and in-game adjustment focused on defense. With Bassetti leading the group, Manhattan ranked No. 19 in the country in scoring defense during the 2020-21 season at 55.9 points per game.
Bassetti was named to the WBCA's Thirty Under 30 list in 2021, which recognizes 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
During her time with the Jaspers, Bassetti focused on the development of the team's point and combo guards. In 2019, Gabby Cajou became the first player in program history to be selected as the MAAC's Sixth Player of the Year. Under Bassetti’s tutelage, Emily LaPointe earned 2020 MAAC Rookie of the Year honors, and freshman DeeDee Davis was named First Team All-MAAC and Second Team All-Met this past season.
Bassetti previously served three years as the director of basketball operations at American University. During her time in D.C., American made three postseason appearances. The Eagles won 22 games and qualified for the Women’s NIT in 2013-14 before posting a school-record 24 victories en route to its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth the following season.
Bassetti’s began her collegiate coaching career at her alma mater, Rowan University, working on practice planning, film breakdown and scouting reports. She also served as Rowan’s recruiting coordinator during the 2012-13 season. Additionally, Bassetti was the head coach of the Philadelphia Belles Nike Travel Team from 2008-12 and served as practice coordinator for the Philadelphia Belles AAU team from 2008-11.
Bassetti played point guard at Rowan from 2008-10, leading the Profs to consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoff appearances. While at Rowan, she was an assistant coach with national powerhouse Ss. Neumann-Goretti High School in South Philadelphia for two seasons (2010-12).
A 2013 graduate of Rowan, Bassetti holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology.
