Rivertowns Sports

New Irvington Girls’ Hoops Coach Ready to Follow Maher

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Kaitlin Degnan will be taking over for Gina Maher on the Irvington girls basketball sidelines this season. (photo by Matthew Doherty)

December 15, 2025

By Tom Pedulla—

Kaitlin Degnan understands the massive challenge she faces as the girls’ basketball coach at Irvington, describing predecessor Gina Maher as the “greatest act to follow.”

Maher retired after 50 years as the winningest girls’ basketball coach in New York State history with 814 victories to go with six state championships. She helped to transform countless girls into women who made a difference, in their chosen fields and as mothers who passed on to their children lessons they learned.

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Degnan, who turns 37 in January, is one of those women. She played for Maher before she graduated from Irvington in 2007, then went on to compete in basketball and softball at Manhattanville. She had coached the girls’ junior varsity basketball team at Irvington for the last five years and overseen Hastings’ softball program for the last 13 seasons.

Still, how does anyone go about following a legend?

“I think the way to do it is I’m going to be learning by doing, number one, and number two is just taking it game by game,” Degnan said. “I’m not going to get 814 wins in one season or probably ever.”

She has a tremendous asset beside her in Barbara Constantine, Maher’s long-time assistant, who preferred to remain as an assistant instead of seeking the head coaching position. “I’ve been calling her ‘associate head coach’ because she deserves that after 24 years,” Degnan said. “To have that support from her is amazing.”

On the court, fans can expect to see many similarities to what worked so well for the Bulldogs for so long.

“We definitely will be using plays that we’ve had for a long time and have worked for us. If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,” Degnan said. “We know how to move the ball in transition. That’s been a trademark of Irvington basketball, and we want that to continue.

“The fast break is our hallmark and has been for over the last 20 years. Our defensive intensity is what leads to our offense. The speed of our team this year is at a very high level. We’re a very fast team and I’m excited for our players to showcase that.”

Degnan coached all of Irvington’s current players when they were developing at the junior varsity level. “The transition was really smooth,” said Chloe MacKessy, a senior captain. “I think she’s going to do great as a coach.”

MacKessy added, “She was coached by Miss Maher, so a lot of her tactics are similar, and we keep a lot of traditions on the team.” Among other things, the phrase “Hold the rope” continues to emphasize the importance of having every roster member do her part and to have everyone pulling in the same direction.

As the season progresses, Degnan intends to add “some different looks to give it a different spin.”

Players must adjust to the increased intensity Degnan brings to practices and on the sidelines during games. “She definitely challenges us a bit more,” MacKessy said.

There is nothing low profile about Irvington’s new coach.

“I’m the loudest person in the gym, I think. It’s never a yelling thing. It’s a passion thing,” Degnan said. “It’s me being demanding of their potential.”

She inherits a team with substantial potential and a nucleus that revolves around six seniors. In addition to MacKessy, the senior class is composed of Kayla Clinton, Yelena Herceg, Nia Kilbury, Sophia Im and Kiera Russler.

Clinton, a guard, joins MacKessy in providing leadership as a senior captain. Herceg is a hard-nosed post player who asserts herself inside. Kilbury and Im are reliable guards. Peyton Clinton and Emi Doncov are underclassmen who should earn significant minutes.

Maher always emphasized a step-by-step approach to the season and was never one to get ahead of herself by thinking about playoff possibilities. Degnan is following that lead.

“Expectations are to play hard, play fast, play with positivity, have a lot of energy,” said Degnan, sounding very much like her legendary mentor.

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