Senecal 

named RIC

women's 

basketball 

coach

By Ron P. Coderre

Glenn Senecal, who has spent his entire adult life as a basketball coach, was named the women’s basketball coach at NCAA Div. III Rhode Island College in Providence.  RIC is a member of the competitive Little East Conference.  Senecal’s appointment, which is effective immediately, was announced by the college administration Aug. 27.  Senecal replaces Kara Williamson who left to take a position as an assistant at Div. I UMass- Lowell University.

“I’m very excited to take over the women’s basketball program at Rhode Island College.  I’d like to thank President Carriuolo and Athletic Director Don Tencher for giving me this opportunity.  I am looking forward to meeting the team and getting ready for the 2014-2015 season,” said Senecal in a news release from Rhode Island College.  

In taking the helm of the Anchorwomen’s hoop fortunes, Senecal brings a wealth of basketball knowledge as well as more than three decades of coaching experience on the college level to the position.  A 1980 graduate of Nichols College with a degree in business administration, Senecal’s initial coaching experience was at his alma mater.  Along the way, he’s had stints as a men’s assistant at Assumption College, College of the Holy Cross and Bryant University.

Senecal transitioned to the women’s game as an assistant at Boston University before moving on to the University of Albany.  He also had a three-year stint as the head women’s coach at Mitchell College in New London.  For the past seven years Senecal has served as the first assistant to coach Beryl Piper at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

During his time at CCSU Senecal helped the Lady Blue Devils to the Northeast Conference quarterfinals once and the semifinals twice.  In 2008-2009 the team earned its first postseason berth when it was selected to play in the WNIT.

Senecal has had brief coaching stops on the high school level at Marianapolis Prep and his alma mater Tourtellotte Memorial High School, where he starred in soccer, basketball and baseball for the Tigers.  Senecal was a National participant in the Punt, Pass and Kick Contest as a youngster.  While at Nichols College he was a standout goalie for the Bison soccer team, an opportunity he parlayed into a successful semi-pro career as the soccer goalie for the Worcester Scans.  He’s a member of the Tourtellotte Memorial High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

“Taking over this program is a great opportunity for me.  I’m looking forward to building a program that will make the school and its fans happy.  I especially wish to thank my wife and family for their support over the years in my quest to reach this level of coaching,” Senecal told the Putnam Town Crier Sports in an interview. 

Senecal and his wife Brenda, a nurse at Day Kimball Hospital live in Putnam.  They have one adult son, Andrew.