The Pitt-Johnstown Athletic Department has announced the hiring of D'wan Shackleford-Vickroy as Head Women's Basketball coach and Aideen O'Donoghue as Head Women's Soccer Coach.
"First and foremost, I would like to thank the dedicated staff and coaching members of the Pitt Johnstown Athletic Department on their diligent work in finding two excellent candidates to lead our Women's Basketball and Women's Soccer Programs," Interim Associate Vice President and Senior Women's Administrator Abby Gearhart said. "Our team worked tirelessly through screening hundreds of applications, several rounds of interviews, and research to find the best fit for our programs. We were really pleased with our candidate pool and applicants. Under the leadership of Pat Pecora over the last decade, we have built a strong family unit that operates cohesively. It was very important that we found coaches that fit our family unit who share the vision and fortitude to move our athletics to the next level. When seeking candidates, it was also important for us to make an investment in people who would be a part of making our community grow both on and off the campus. We could not have found two better people to fit the bill for everything that we were looking for."
"Both candidates are former D1 standout athletes who have been able to successfully transfer their athletic skills to coaching skills. Coaching requires so much more than playing skills. We truly believe that coaching is a calling in our department and feel we found two incredible individuals that have been called to coach. Not only do we want our programs to be successful and win championships, but we also want our student athletes to have a great experience, and grow personally and as contributing members to society. We have full confidence that Coach O'Donoghue and Coach Shackleford-Vickroy will deliver. We could not be happier that they are part of our very special Mountain Cat Family."
Shackleford-Vickroy replaces Mike Drahos. In 11 seasons at the helm of the women's basketball program, Drahos led his teams to five PSAC Tournament appearances, including back-to-back appearances in the quarterfinals in 2022 and 2023.
O'Donoghue takes over for Vito Addalli. Addalli guided the Mountain Cats to a program-best six PSAC victories during the 2019 season.
Shackleford-Vickroy, a Big-10 All-Star Team selection a two-time Best Defensive Player Award Winner at The Ohio State University, was named Pitt-Johnstown's fifth head women's basketball coach on August 1.
She came to Pitt-Johnstown after serving as an assistant coach, recruiting coordinator, and strength and conditioning coach at NCAA Division II Ohio Dominican University from 2022-2024 where she helped the team improve two spots in the Great Midwestern Athletic Conference (GMAC) standings and raise the winning percentage each season. She also coached all-conference and all-region performers and 11 Academic All-Conference student-athletes. Prior to that, Shackleford-Vickroy was the assistant coach at Westerville South High School from 2018-2022. She tutored five NCAA Division I and a pair of Division II players in her four seasons at the high school level.
Shackleford-Vickroy, a member of the top recruiting class in the nation to enter Ohio State, was a four-year letter winner in basketball and one year letter-winner in volleyball as a Buckeye from 1999-2004.
She was a member of the 2001 WNIT Championship Team under Head Coach Beth Burns, and a member of the 2003 team that received an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament under Coach Jim Foster.
Using her last year of eligibility she joined Ohio State's women's volleyball team in 2004 where she led the nation in blocks through much of her senior season.
Academically, Shackleford-Vickroy was a Dean's List honoree and an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete. She still remains among the top leaders in several season and career statistical categories for women's basketball.
She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sports Management from Ohio State and a Master's in Business Administration in Sports Management Degree from Tiffin (OH) University.
After graduation, Shackleford-Vickroy competed professionally for the Solna Vikings, the top team in the Swedish Basketball League.
Shackleford-Vickroy and her husband, Derick have been married since 2006. They are the proud parents of son London, and daughters Olympia, and Naomi.
"Head Women's Basketball Coach, D'wan Shackleford-Vickroy, left us excited and with great confidence in knowing the program is in great hands," Gearhart said. She consistently delivered with a commanding poise and down to earth warmth that was undeniable. She comes with a great deal of knowledge and experience in not only coaching, but also training the body and mind. Her power to inspire and motivate was palpable. She is dynamite.
Also on August 1, O'Donoghue became the fifth Pitt-Johnstown head women's soccer coach since the program began in 2005 after spending two seasons as an assistant coach Enrollment Coordinator at Point Park University as the program transitioned from NAIA to Division II.
O'Donoghue, a native of Canonsburg, Pa. and a graduate of Canon-McMillan High School, was a three-year starter at the University of Pittsburgh, before transferring to the University of South Florida for her senior season where she played in the 2021 NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament.
A 2017 High School All-American, O'Donoghue helped lead Canon-McMillan to the 2016 PIAA AAA State Championship and was invited to the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) U-17 Camp in the summer of 2016.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication at South Florida in 2021, before earning her Master's Degree in Education for Athletic Administration and Coaching at Point Park in 2024.
O'Donoghue is the daughter of Tim and Theresa O'Donoghue. She has three brothers, Dillon, Conlan, and Eamon.
"Head Women's Soccer Coach, Aideen O'Donoghue, has an energy that is absolutely contagious. Our interview team joked after all of our interview rounds with her that we all now wanted to play soccer with her as our coach. She has a passion for the sport, a plethora of knowledge, and an inherent ability to motivate," said Gearhart.
"I would be remiss if I did not extend my gratitude to the coaches that previously paved the way for Coach Shackleford-Vickroy and Coach O'Donoghue," said Gearhart. Without their dedication and hard work, we would not be in the position that we are in to keep forging ahead and putting Pitt Johnstown on the map. Women's Soccer has been climbing the ranks in the very competitive Pennsylvania Athletic Conference while maintaining impressive academic contributions. Women's Basketball has a rich legacy and history of success that really took off under the leadership of Coach Jodi Gault and has consistently carried a reputable legacy and impressive academics through Coach Mike Drahos. I particularly want to thank Mike Drahos as he has seamlessly transitioned from his role as Head Women's Basketball Coach to Assistant Athletic Director. His Leadership during this transitional period has been invaluable. He is an integral part to the future of Pitt Johnstown Athletics. We have an incredible family and team here with years of experience including a mix of former student athletes and alum that play into the rich legacy of Pitt Johnstown Athletics. We look forward with great anticipation for the contributions of our new additions! H2PJ!"
