DePaul women’s basketball coach Doug Bruno is stepping down after 39 seasons and a 786-405 record at the helm of the program.
Bruno, who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2022, will move into a new role with the Blue Demons as the Special Assistant to the Vice President/Director of Athletics for Women’s Basketball on May 1. DePaul announced Friday it will begin a nationwide search for its new coach.
One of the most prominent figures in women’s basketball in Illinois and beyond, Bruno led DePaul to 25 NCAA Tournament appearances, including 18 straight berths through 2020 before that tournament was canceled because of COVID-19. His teams made the Sweet 16 four times.
Bruno missed the 2024-25 season while on a medical leave. The team announced prior to the season that he was dealing with a “medical complication,” and Jill M. Pizzotti served as interim coach in his absence. Pizzotti has been with the Blue Demons for 14 seasons and finished her 11th year as associate head coach. DePaul was 13-19 this season, including 8-10 in the Big East.
Bruno said in a statement that he owes his “professional athletic life to DePaul University,” where he also played basketball under Ray Meyer. He first served as coach in 1976-77 for two seasons and then returned to the job in the 1988-89 season. He also worked as an assistant at Loyola for eight seasons.
“Athletic success is the result of three forces coming together and working together: a talented, hardworking and supportive administration, coaching staff, and most importantly, players, and I’ve been fortunate to experience all three at DePaul,” Bruno said in the statement, before thanking DePaul athletic leaders, including Pizzotti.
“Jill Pizzotti’s leadership of our program has been exemplary as has been the extra effort and teamwork of our entire staff. Finally, I would like to offer my deepest personal appreciation to all of those who helped grow our DePaul Women’s Basketball program.”
Bruno has been a longtime champion of growing the women’s game. He served on multiple women’s basketball committees and was a USA Basketball assistant for the senior national team from 2009-16. His Doug Bruno girls basketball camps have helped teach tens of thousands of young players for decades.
DePaul athletic director DeWayne Peevy said in a statement that Bruno’s greatest contribution was his “relentless commitment to developing both the character and the careers of the young women who passed through our program.”
“Doug Bruno’s extraordinary impact on DePaul University and the game of women’s basketball is nothing short of legendary,” Peevy said. “For nearly four decades, Doug has been the heart and soul of our program, elevating it to national prominence while setting a standard of excellence that transcends wins and losses.
“His leadership has not only defined the Blue Demons’ success but also paved the way for countless student-athletes, coaches, and fans who have witnessed the growth of women’s basketball under his guidance.”
