Doug Bruno’s retirement marks end of an era at DePaul

“I owe my professional athletic life to DePaul University, starting with Coach Ray Meyer offering me a basketball scholarship in 1968 and continuing through my Athletic Department roles as Ticket Manager, Facilities Director, Academic Advisor, Athletic Administrator and Head Women’s Basketball Coach. DePaul University has been my home for 44 years,” Bruno said in a statement.

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A native of Chicago, Bruno played college basketball at DePaul under Hall of Fame coach Ray Meyer. Following his graduation in 1973, Bruno’s coaching career began at the high school level in 1973-74 as an assistant at Francis Parker High School before serving as a head coach in 1974-75 for the boys’ team at St. Vincent DePaul High School. He then returned to DePaul in 1976 after being named the head coach of the women’s basketball program.

Bruno left his post at his alma mater in 1978 to take on a professional coaching opportunity with the Chicago Hustle of the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL), a role he held until 1980. After an eight-season assistant coaching stint at Loyola (IL), Bruno returned to DePaul women’s basketball in 1988 as head coach, a role he held until his retirement. In 2020, he became the all-time winningest coach in DePaul basketball history, surpassing Coach Meyer. 

“There haven’t been a lot of people in the history of women’s basketball that have given as much to the game as he has,” UConn head coach and longtime friend of Bruno, Geno Auriemma, said. “He’s dedicated his life pretty much to women’s basketball, and all of it in Chicago, where he grew up.” 

In his time at DePaul, Bruno amassed an overall record of 786-405 (.660), earning 25 NCAA Tournament berths and 19 conference titles. He ranks 18th all-time for wins in Division I women’s basketball history, and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022. His career was characterized by his commitment to growing the game of women’s basketball, with his Doug Bruno Girls Basketball Camp supporting over 80,000 young athletes over the past several decades.

“He’s an institution,” Auriemma said. “I don’t think there’s a kid in the Midwest — name all the states, I don’t care, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois — they know someone or they themselves have been to Doug Bruno’s basketball camp over the years.”

A six-time Olympic gold medalist, Bruno also found success on the Olympic stage. He was recognized as the 2006 and 2007 USA Basketball Developmental Coach of the Year after leading the U18 team and U19 team to gold medals at the FIBA Americas and World Championships. He also has coached 15 players that went on to WNBA careers, including All-Star and two-time Sixth Player of the Year, Allie Quigley (DePaul class of 2008).

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Bruno didn’t intend to stop coaching, his contract in place until 2028. Unfortunately, health complications prior to this season left him unable to assume head coaching responsibilities, and longtime assistant Jill Pizzotti took over. With a youthful roster, Pizzotti led the Blue Demons to a 13-19 overall record.

“There’s no question I’d love to still keep coaching,” Bruno, 74, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “At the same time, you have to assess the whole situation. It’s just not fair to the players, first of all. They need to know who their coach is going to be. The program needs to know so they can recruit players. You can’t have a coach in limbo.”

With Bruno’s announcement, DePaul women’s basketball now enters a new era for the first time in decades as it begins a “national search” to replace Bruno as head coach. The incoming coach will inherit a program seeking to rebuild. In addition to the departure of graduate forward Jorie Allen, seven players have entered the transfer portal since it opened on March 25, and a Bruno’s retirement (a head coaching change) triggers a longer window for student-athletes to enter the portal.