Garrick Named Head Coach at Rhode Island
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Aug. 10, 2004
KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Rhode Island has named Tom Garrick as head women’s basketball coach, the school announced on Tuesday.
Garrick, one of the greatest players in URI basketball history, left Virginia after serving as an assistant coach on Debbie Ryan’s staff for three months.
Garrick spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the URI women’s team. He was involved with all aspects of recruiting and coordinated opponent scouting as well as team travel. In December 2003, Garrick was promoted to interim head basketball coach. He took over for head coach Boe Pearman, who took a leave of absence due to health reasons. Garrick led Rhode Island to a 16-13 overall record and 8-8 in the Atlantic 10, marking the Rams’ third-straight winning season and the second time in 10 years they finished .500 in the conference. For his efforts, Garrick was named the Rhode Island basketball media Division I women’s basketball Coach of the Year in March.
Prior to joining the women’s staff, Garrick spent three years as an assistant coach on the Rhode Island men’s basketball coaching staff.
The West Warwick, R.I., native starred at Rhode Island from 1984-88, leading the Rams to the Sweet 16 in his senior year. Garrick earned Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Valuable Player honors and was a second-team all-conference honoree. He finished his career as Rhode Island’s 15th all-time scoring leader with 1,573 points. He also finished second in career steals (189) and fourth in career assists (407).
A 1990 graduate with a bachelor’s degree, Garrick played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Dallas Mavericks and later played in Europe before retiring in 1998.
Garrick was inducted into the URI’s Athletic Hall of Fame in October of 1998. Sports Illustrated named Garrick the 39th best athlete in its millennium issue’s list of top athletes. The Providence Journal recognized him in its listing of the state?s greatest athletes.
Virginia women’s basketball opens the 2004-05 campaign at Louisiana State’s Tournament on Nov. 11.