Rider University Athletics

Lynn Donovan-Milligan '92, '94 completed her 18th season as the head women's basketball coach at Rider University in 2024-25.

Rider finished the 2024-25 season 7-22 overall with freshman Winner Bartholomew being named to MAAC All-Rookie Team.

The Broncs won at least one game at the MAAC Tournament for the seventh time in the past eight seasons in 2023-24, defeating Iona in the opening round. Taylor Langan led the Broncs individual honors, being named Second-Team All-MAAC. Langan also garnered national attention during the regular season when her buzzer beater to win at Iona on ESPNU was featured at number five in SportsCenters Top 10. Makayla Firebaugh closed out her Rider career ranked eighth on the program's all-time scoring list with 1,365 career points. She also graduated fifth all-time in program history with 217 made three pointers. Jessika Schiffer closed out her Rider career ranked seventh in Rider history with 179 career triples.

Rider closed the 2022-23 season strong winning five of its final nine games, including an opening round victory in the MAAC Tournament over Marist. Amanda Mobley moved into second on Rider's career assist list, including a Division-I program record 13 against Manhattan. Mobley finished the season ranked just outside the top ten in the country for assists.

The Broncs were plagued by the injury bug under Milligan in 2021-22 with four players missing the entire season, and fifth suffering a season-ending injury just three games into the year. Lenaejha Evans made the most of her senior season with the Broncs, leading the squad in scoring on her way to Third-Team All-MAAC honors.

In 2020-21, the Broncs advanced to the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament, topping 10th-seeded Monmouth and second-seeded Quinnipiac in Atlantic City. Makayla Firebaugh led the individual awards season for the team, being named MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-Met.

2019-20 was arguably the Broncs finest in program history. Milligan earned her second MAAC and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year honors in leading Rider to its first-ever MAAC Regular Season Championship. The top-seeded Broncs advanced past Niagara in the MAAC Quarterfinals before the remainder of the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. Milligan led Rider to an 18-2 league mark, with 18 wins being the most for the team in league play in program history. Rider went 26-4 overall and the 26 wins are the most since the Broncs joined Division I following the 1981-82 season. The Broncs were consistently ranked in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 poll, spending the final two months inside the top-12.

With team success came individual accolades and opportunity. Stella Johnson earned her second consecutive MAAC Player of the Year honor, becoming the sixth player all-time to achieve the feat in back-to-back years. She became Rider's first-ever All-American, earning honorable mention recognition from the Associated Press, Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), while also was picked a Senior CLASS Award Second-Team All-American. Johnson was also a finalist for both the Nancy Lieberman Award and Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year and finished the year as the leading scorer in NCAA Division I at 24.8 points per game, more than a point ahead of the next-closest player. She was also the only active Division I player with 2,000 career points, 700 career rebounds, 400 career assists and 300 career steals. In addition, Johnson was named the ECAC and Met Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Year. The list of honors continued with Johnson's second-straight Rider Female Athlete of the Year and MAAC Female Student-Athlete of the Year honors, while becoming one of two MAAC nominees for NCAA Woman of the Year. Johnson's resume drew the attention of the WNBA, as she was the 29th overall selection in the WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, before making her WNBA debut for the Chicago Sky and later making a strong impact with the Washington Mystics in her rookie season.

Joining Stella Johnson in earning a MAAC major award was Amari Johnson, the league's Defensive Player of the Year. Amari also earned All-MAAC Second Team honors, along with fellow senior Lea Favre. Milligan also oversaw a strong performance in the classroom, with seven Broncs earning MAAC All-Academic Team recognition.

It was another banner year for the Broncs in 2018-19 as Rider finished the season with a 19-13 overall record and a 14-4 record in the MAAC. Rider earned the league’s automatic bid to the WNIT. It marked the second time in program history and the second time in the last three years that the team appeared in the WNIT. The Broncs won 10 or more MAAC games for the third year in a row (first time in program history 10 or more MAAC wins three straight years). The 14 MAAC wins are the most in program history in an 18-game conference schedule and the second-most in Rider history.
 
Three Broncs earned All-MAAC honors, highlighted by Stella Johnson being the only player in the league to be a unanimous selection to the First Team. Stella was also tabbed as the MAAC Player of the Year. It was the second time in program history that the team had a student-athlete recognized as the league’s best player.

In 2017-18, the Broncs went 14-17 overall and 10-8 MAAC play to earn the No. 5 seed in the MAAC Tournament. Rider won a MAAC Tournament game for the second year in a row after topping fourth-seeded Fairfield in the MAAC Quarterfinals. The Broncs advanced to the MAAC Semifinals for the second year in a row and the third time in program history. 

During the year, four Broncs earned weekly awards from either the MAAC or College Sports Madness. At the conclusion of the regular season, three Rider players garnered All-MAAC recognition. Stella Johnson and Kamila Hoskova were named Second Team All-MAAC and freshman Jaiden Morris landed on the MAAC All-Rookie Team. 

in 2017-18, Hoskova became the 22nd player in program history to score 1,000 career points. She ended her stellar tenure with the Broncs eighth all-time in scoring with 1,255 points. 

The team had a record-breaking in 2016-17, finishing 24-9 and earning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) automatic bid to the WNIT thanks to a second-place finish during the regular season. The post-season berth was the first for the Broncs at the Division I level.

Milligan picked up her 100th career win as the Head Coach of the Broncs during the 2016-17 season and she now ranks second all-time in program history in wins.

She was named both the MAAC Coach of the Year in a vote of her peers and the Maggie Dixon Division I Coach of the Year by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association. Milligan was the first Rider Head Coach to earn both distinctions.

Milligan guided the Broncs to arguably the most successful season in program history in 2016-17, racking up 24 wins and earning the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament. Picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll, Rider posted an 8-2 mark both on the road and at home in conference play. The team swept eight MAAC opponents during the regular season and was ranked for four weeks in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top-25 Poll.

The 24 wins are the most victories by the Broncs under Milligan and the most for the program since the team won 26 games during the 1981-82 season. The 24 wins against Division I opponents is the most in a single season in program history as well. The 16 MAAC wins are also the most under Milligan in a season and in program history. The team finished above .500 in conference play for the third time since entering the league and the No. 2 seed is the best for Rider since joining the MAAC as well.

In 2016-17, the women's basketball team saw four players earn All-MAAC honors as announced in early March by the league office. The four players earning All-MAAC honors is a new program record for Rider as the team saw three players receive league-wide distinction in 2012-13, 2001-02 and 1999-2000. The four players honored by the league were the most by any team in the conference this year.

In 2014-15, Milligan's squad posted double-digit wins for the fourth season in a row before being held to eight wins this past season.

In 2013-14, Milligan led the Broncs to 15 wins, tying for fifth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Rider advanced to the MAAC semifinals for the first time and the Broncs won their first playoff game since 2004-05.

During that season, Milligan put a player on the All-MAAC First Team for the second season in a row with MyNeshia McKenzie a finalist for Player of the Year honors in the conference.  McKenzie graduated as Rider's all-time leading rebounder and third on the all-time scoring list.

Milligan also had a player on the MAAC All-Rookie team with Julia Duggan earning Rider's fifth All-Rookie honor in Milligan's first seven seasons.

With 15 wins in 2012-13, Rider had its best season since the Broncs went 16-12 in 1994-95.

The 15 wins were the fifth most in the then 74-year history of the program and Rider tied its best MAAC record (10-8), finishing fourth in the conference.

Rider made the MAAC quarterfinals and McKenzie earned First Team All-MAAC and Second Team All-MET honors with senior Caitlin Bopp earning Third Team All-MAAC honors with freshman Mikal Johnson named to the MAAC All-Rookie team.

Rider got off to its best start in almost 30 years when the Broncs opened 2011-12 with eight wins in the first 11 games, matching the 8-3 start by the 1982-83 squad. The Broncs were led by McKenzie who was recognized with Third Team All-MAAC honors.

In 2010-11, Milligan, for the third season in a row, coached a member of the MAAC All-Rookie team (McKenzie) with Ali Heller earning MAAC Sixth Player of the Year honors after being one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the nation.

Caitlin Bopp earned All-Rookie honors in 2009-10 with Sarah Homan earning All-Rookie honors in 2008-09. In her second season at the helm of the Broncs' program, Rider finished with its most victories since the 1999-2000 season and its second highest MAAC win total all-time, earning Milligan consideration for MAAC Coach of the Year.

"We're proud of being able to achieve more wins, but you always want more," said Milligan. "We feel that the advancement of the team is going in the right direction."

In Milligan's first season, Rider tripled its win total in the MAAC and the excitement that Milligan brought to the program boosted attendance in Alumni Gym to almost 600 fans per game. An Alumni Gym record for women's basketball was set on February 17, 2008 as 1,494 fans were on hand to see the Broncs take on nationally ranked conference rival Marist.

In 2008-09, attendance increased again to an average of 900 fans per home game and the Broncs have consistently almost 700 fans per contest since.

"The Rider community and the surrounding community took to the way we play," Milligan said. "I've always told the team that if you play hard, the fans will respect that and will want to see you play. Our alumni support is terrific and once you see a game, you want to come back again and again."

Never one to back down from a challenge, the Broncs posted wins over teams from the MAAC as well as Conference USA (Central Florida), the Northeast Conference (Monmouth), the Patriot League (Army), the Colonial Athletic Association (Hofstra) and the Ivy League (Princeton) during the 2007-08 season and defeated second place Canisius, third place Fairfield and fifth place Iona all on the road.

Milligan returned to her alma mater to become the new head coach of the Rider University women's basketball team, on April 24, 2007.

"Returning to Rider has been a dream come true," said Milligan, who was a two-sport stand-out for the Broncs. "I was thrilled to come home to a place that is so special to me and have the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program into the future."

Milligan returned to Rider from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pa., where she served as an assistant coach for six years, the last two as the top assistant. Saint Joseph's earned a berth in the WNIT five times during her last six seasons.

At Saint Joseph's, Milligan was directly responsible for recruiting and guard play for a program that compiled 111 wins during her last six seasons with the team. Three of her last five recruiting classes were nationally ranked. She assisted with all aspects of the Hawks' program, including on-court instruction, scouting, game-plan preparation, academic support and fundraising.

Prior to joining Saint Joseph's, Milligan spent six years as the top assistant coach at Drexel University. In her final season, she helped guide Drexel to a 19-10 record overall and a 13-5 mark in the America East Conference, tying for second place and advancing to the semifinal round of the league tournament. Milligan arrived in Philadelphia following a one-year stint as an assistant coach at Central Connecticut State.

At Rider, Milligan earned a bachelor's degree in communication in 1992 and earned a master's degree in counseling in 1994. Also a three-year member of the Bronc softball team, Milligan collected more than 100 career hits in just three seasons and helped lead the team to the 1990 East Coast Conference Championship as the team's leading hitter and to the 1991 Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship.

The 1992 Rider basketball team was the most successful in 10 years when Milligan was a senior and went 9-3 in the East Coast Conference. In her two seasons as a Rider graduate assistant coach, the Broncs were a combined 35-20, including a 25-11 record in the Northeast Conference.

A native of Voorhees, N.J., Milligan is a member of Eastern High School's Athletic Hall of Fame. Milligan has a twin sister, Aileen, who played basketball at Loyola College in Maryland. Milligan is an active member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. She currently resides in Voorhees with her husband, Patrick.

LYNN MILLIGAN RIDER CAREER COACHING RECORD