Robin Harmony will be Pitt’s new women’s basketball coach, athletic director Allen Greene announced Monday.
Harmony, a Hershey native, joins the Panthers from the College of Charleston, where she just led the Cougars to their first NCAA Tournament appearance, as well as Colonial Athletic Association regular-season and conference tournament titles. She has compiled a 369-198 record over 19 seasons as a Division I coach.
Harmony, 64, replaces Tory Verdi, who was fired March 3.
“We are thrilled to welcome Robin Harmony to Pitt,” Greene said in a statement. “Throughout this process, it was important for us to find someone who understands the value of connection with our student-athletes, with our alumni and with the broader Pitt community.
“Coach Harmony has built a reputation on forming meaningful relationships with student-athletes and leading with an athlete-centered philosophy that prioritizes their growth both on and off the court. … We are excited about the future of Pitt women’s basketball under her leadership.”
Harmony will be introduced formally on Friday afternoon at Petersen Events Center.
Under Harmony, the Cougars set a school record for wins this season, winning league titles for the first time, as well. For her efforts, Harmony was named CAA Coach of the Year.
Harmony went 122-81 (66-50 CAA) at College of Charleston from 2019-26, leading the Cougars to three straight 20-win seasons (2024-26), two WNIT appearances and this year’s NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Duke in the Round of 64.
Previous coaching stops for Harmony include Lamar of the Southland Conference (2013-19) and St. Thomas of the NAIA (2007-13). Harmony went 115-68 at Lamar and 132-49 at St. Thomas.
“I am honored by the trust athletic director Allen Greene and (executive associate athletic director) Jen Tuscano have placed in me by selecting me to lead the University of Pittsburgh’s women’s basketball program,” Harmony said. “I look forward to recruiting exceptional student-athletes to one of the nation’s leading academic institutions with a proud athletic tradition; young women who will succeed in the classroom and compete at the highest level in the ACC.
“My promise to Pitt fans is to build a team that reflects the spirit of the university and the City of Pittsburgh with grit, determination and teamwork. Coaching and teaching in the Petersen Events Center is a dream come true, and I’m excited to get started. I ask for the support of our women’s basketball alumni, the Oakland Zoo and all Pitt fans as we grow this program together and create an exciting future for Pitt women’s basketball.”
Harmony is a 1984 graduate of Miami and played there for four seasons, later returning to her alma mater as a coach from 1985-87 and 1988-2005. From 1993-2005, she served as associate head coach.
She inherits a Panthers women’s hoops program that has fallen on hard times, as Pitt has not made the NCAA Tournament or had a winning season since 2015.
Verdi’s tenure was unsuccessful on the court and controversial off it.
Over three seasons (2023-26), his teams went 29-66 (8-46 ACC), never finishing higher than 14th in the ACC with zero postseason appearances.
The 2025-26 campaign was one of the worst in program history, as Pitt went 8-23 (1-17), tying for last in the league.
In early February, Verdi was sued by several former Pitt players, alleging psychological abuse, intentional infliction of emotional distress and retaliation.
