Jackie Hartzell enters her second season as the head women's basketball coach at Rider University after being named the program's 20th head coach in April 2025.
“I am honored and humbled to be named the head coach at Rider University,” said Hartzell. “I want to thank President Dell'Omo, Athletic Director Don Harnum, and Senior Women’s Administrator Karin Torchia for believing in me and giving me this incredible opportunity. I look forward to this new and exciting challenge and I can't wait to get started.”
Hartzell has compiled 247 career victories, three conference championships, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and multiple Coach of the Year honors during her collegiate coaching career. During her first season at Rider, Aliya McIver earned MAAC All-Defensive Team honors, while Hartzell and her staff assembled a highly regarded recruiting and transfer class.
Hartzell arrived at Rider following a highly successful three-year tenure as the head coach at Arcadia University, where she led one of the most significant turnarounds in program history. When she took over the program, the Knights had not posted a winning season since the 1997-98 season. In just three seasons, she compiled a 54-26 overall record while leading Arcadia to its first MAC postseason victory, a program-record win total, the program's first appearance in the MAC Freedom Championship Game, and the program's first MAC Freedom Coach of the Year honor in 2024-25. Under her leadership, Arcadia also produced its first Conference Player of the Year and multiple All-Conference selections while consistently ranking among the conference's top teams on both ends of the floor.
Before Arcadia, Hartzell spent eight seasons at the University of the Sciences, where she established one of the premier NCAA Division II programs in the country. Her Devils compiled an outstanding 186-57 overall record and a 123-28 conference mark while capturing three Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) championships, earning five NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, and winning five NCAA Tournament games. Her teams led NCAA Division II in scoring defense during both the 2016-17 and 2021-22 seasons
The sustained success at USciences earned Hartzell national recognition. She was named the 2018 HERO Sports NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year after leading the Devils to one of the best seasons in program history. She also earned WBCA East Region Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and was recognized as a four-time CACC Coach of the Year, the 2017 Philadelphia Coaches Conference Collegiate Coach of the Year, and the 2022 City of Basketball Love Coach of the Year.
Before entering the collegiate ranks, Hartzell served as head coach at Archbishop Ryan High School, compiling a 78-49 record while leading the Ragdolls to a PIAA District 12 Championship and a PIAA State Championship Game appearance. She also served as an assistant coach at Archbishop Wood High School and Saint Hubert High School and coached AAU basketball with the Mid-Atlantic Magic and Northeast Rockers.
Hartzell's impact has extended beyond the basketball court. In 2011, she was recognized as the Athletes Helping Athletes Person of the Year for her dedication to serving individuals with special needs through athletics.
A former student-athlete at Delaware Valley University, Hartzell was a four-year member of the women's basketball team and earned three MAC All-Academic Team selections. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Delaware Valley before earning a Master of Business Administration from La Salle University.
Hartzell played a key role in the development of Aliya McIver, who completed 64 steals across the 2025-26 season, 46 of which came in MAAC conference play. For her efforts on the court, McIver was named to the MAAC All-Defensive team.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT JACKIE HARTZELL
Denise Dillon – Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Villanova University
“Great hire by Rider! Jackie is a proven winner, whose dedication to player growth and development translates to success. With her leadership, she and her staff will recruit fierce competitors ready to make an immediate impact in the MAAC."
Mike McLaughlin – Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Pennsylvania
“Jackie Hartzell brings a wealth of head coaching experience and a proven track record of success with her to Rider University. With her strong knowledge of the game combined with her competitive drive, Jackie is the perfect person to lead their women’s basketball program. Looking forward to seeing Jackie excel in this new role! Amazing hire for Rider!”
Amy Mallon - Head Women's Basketball Coach at Drexel University
"I am so excited for Jackie to lead the Rider program. She has certainly has proven to be a winner on and off the court. Jackie’s attention to detail and ability to grow student-athletes to be the best they can be is a key to her overall success. This opportunity is well deserved and I wish her the best of luck on this next step in her basketball journey."
Tom Shirley - Head Women's Basketball Coach at Jefferson University
"I have known Coach Hartzell and competed against her for the past 20 years. She is one of the finest coaches in the sport, always fielding a quality team. Her recruiting and feel for the game are second to none and she will be a terrific role model for current and future members of the Rider women's basketball team. Jackie Hartzell is an outstanding choice."
Dave Pauley - Former Head Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Sciences
"The game comes easy to Jackie. She is a leader, role model, and a true caretaker of the game who puts student-athletes first. Rider is getting a good one!"
BY THE NUMBERS
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247 career collegiate victories as a head coach
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Three conference championships
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Five NCAA Division II Tournament appearances
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NCAA Division II Sweet 16 appearance
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Five NCAA Tournament victories
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Six consecutive WBCA Academic Top 25 Team honors
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HERO Sports NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year (2018)
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WBCA East Region Coach of the Year (2019)
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Five Conference Coach of the Year honors
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Philadelphia Coaches Conference Collegiate Coach of the Year (2017)
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City of Basketball Love Coach of the Year (2022)
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Led Arcadia University to its first winning season since 1997-98
Record as Rider Women's Basketball Head Coach
| Year |
Overall |
MAAC Record |
| 2025-26 |
7-22 |
5-15 |
| Totals |
7-22 |
5-15 |
