Worcester women's college basketball coaches enjoy thriving for the long haul

Worcester State coach Karen Tessmer earned her 350th career win last Saturday when the Lancers beat Fitchburg State, and she became the second area women’s basketball coach to achieve a milestone victory this season. Assumption’s Kerry Phayre registered triumph No. 400 in January.

Tessmer, in her 28th season at Worcester State, ranks behind only the iconic Pat Glispin, Clark’s coach for 37 years, in current local longevity.

“It’s about loving what you do and really loving the game of basketball and wanting to work with student-athletes and help them get better and help our team win,” Tessmer said.

Phayre is in her 26th year at Assumption and Cherise Galasso her 22nd at WPI.

“For so many of us,” Phayre said, “we probably got into it for all the right reasons. It’s not all about the wins and losses. It’s about being at the right school, it’s about coaching the right types of players, the academics.”

Phayre, who came to Assumption after five seasons at Columbia, has guided the Greyhounds to seven NCAA appearances.

“When I first took the job,” she said, “people asked me, ‘How long do you plan to be there?’ Within the first couple years, I said, ‘I hope to retire here.’ That’s a great goal, but you don’t know if that will happen because within coaching, it’s really hard to be able to stay at a school for so long. I’ve always loved Assumption. It’s where I wanted to stay, and the school has stood behind me in good years and bad years, so I really appreciate the loyalty Assumption has shown me during my 26 years here.”

The fabulous foursome of Glispin, Tessmer, Phayre and Galasso have combined for more than 1,600 victories. Glispin, Tessmer and Phayre are the winningest coaches in their respective school’s women’s or men’s basketball history. Galasso has the most coaching wins in WPI women’s basketball history.

“What a wonderful group to be associated with,” Glispin said, “the other coaches in Worcester. I really value the fact we have great relationships with each other. Worcester is a very tight-knit community; I think our women’s basketball coaches are an even tighter community here.”

Glispin has led Clark to seven NCAA bids, including an Elite Eight appearance in 1988-89. She is among a select group of women’s Division 3 coaches to win more than 500 games.

“No question it’s the chance to work with great student-athletes and the commitment to them and their commitment to the program,” Glispin said is the reason for her many years at Clark.

Glispin and Galasso are NEWMAC foes, but esteemed colleagues.

Including her three seasons at Regis, Galasso has 373 career victories, 338 at WPI. She guided the Engineers to their first NEWMAC championship in 2015-16, and this year’s team has won 18 games.

“I thought I would be here three or four years,” Galasso said, “but Worcester is a special place, and it surprises you. We’re in a place where we’re valued, and I think that’s a key piece. The institutions in this area value women’s basketball. When you can work in a place where you’re supported and you have the resources, you can really enjoy what you’re doing.

“To be mentioned in the same group as Karen and Kerry and Pat is special for me,” Galasso said. “Each of those women has been so committed to their institutions and dedicated to their players and to moving the sport of women’s basketball forward.”

—Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @tgsports.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester women's college basketball coaches enjoy thriving for the long haul