WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University Director of Athletics Addy Malatesta has announced the hiring of Al Berger as the Colonels new women's basketball head coach. Berger is the 15th different head coach for the program as it heads into its 64th season in 2023-2024.

"I'm beyond thankful for the opportunity to lead the women's basketball team at Wilkes University," Berger commented. "I owe an enormous debt of gratitude to the search committee, Director of Athletics Addy Malatesta, and the rest of the wonderful administration at Wilkes; and I am excited for the challenge ahead. Coach Macciocco helped lay the foundation for a successful program here, and I hope to continue to provide a positive experience for all of our student-athletes."

Berger joins Wilkes from Keystone College where he spent the previous two seasons as the Giants head coach. He took over the Giants program prior to the 2021-2022 season and went 29-23 overall and 25-14 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) including playoff games.

In his first season with Keystone he coached the Giants to runner-up in the CSAC Championships and this past season coached Keystone into the CSAC Quarterfinals. He coached two First Team All-CSAC players and one Honorable Mention in 2021-2022 and two Honorable Mention All-CSAC selections this past season in 2022-2023. Berger yielded 10 recruits during his first year at Keystone including five transfers and five first-years.

"I'd also like to express my genuine gratitude for the opportunity and experience I had over the past two years at Keystone College," Berger said.

Prior to his time at Keystone, Berger served as the Interim / Acting Head Women's Basketball Coach at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. in 2019-2020 as the Gators made the ACAA Tournament Semifinals.

He served one season as a volunteer assistant at Brandeis University in 2018-2019. His first collegiate head coaching experience came at Salem State University in 2017-2018 as he led the Vikings to the MASCSAC Quarterfinals. In 2016-2017 he served as Associate Head Coach at Wheelock College.

Prior to Wheelock he served as an assistant coach at Wellesley College from 2012-2016 where he also served as a recruiting coordinator and athletic communications assistant. He recruited the 2017 NEWMAC Rookie of the Year and 2020 First Team All-Conference player Caitlin Aguirre and coached and aided the development of 2014 NEWMAC Player of the Year Leslie Leong. His first collegiate coaching experience came at Lasell University in 2011-2012 where he also served as an athletic department intern.

From 2008-2011 Berger coached at Hopkinton High School as the JV Girls' Basketball Coach and Varsity assistant coach as well as a long-term substitute teacher in English and Physical Education. Berger served as the Mass Huskies AAU 8th/9th grade girls' coach from 2019-2021.

"There was so much to fall in love with as I learned more about Wilkes and this coaching position," Berger remarked. "The most important factors were the school's demonstrated commitment to its students and student-athletes, along with the competitiveness of the women's basketball program and the Landmark Conference. It really just felt like a perfect opportunity to grow, lead, and serve."

Berger is a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) member, has attended several WBCA Conventions, and has also participated in a Peer Mentoring group within the organization.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Framingham State University in 2005 with an emphasis in Corporate Communication and a minor in English. In 2012 he earned his Master's in Sports Administration from Canisius College. Coach Al resides in Clarks Summit with his wife, Cassie, their children, Donnie and Josie, and their dog, Juno. 

"Getting to work with our talented student-athletes, as well as working to use our program, our beautiful campus, and facilities to recruit towards building a program that can consistently be in the top half of our new conference is exciting," Berger said. "My family and I are also really excited to become part of the campus and athletics community."
 
Berger begins his duties at Wilkes on Monday, May 1.