Robert Morris University - Pennsylvania Women's Basketball

Chandler McCabe was named the seventh head coach of the RMU women's basketball program on March 18, 2024.  McCabe enters her second season as head coach of the Colonials where she helped lead RMU to a 15-16 overall record and 10-10 mark in Horizon League play during her first year at the helm. In her first year at Bobby Mo, McCabe helped shift the dynamic of the RMU women's basketball program, leading the team to several notable achievements. Highlights from her debut season include: •First time in program history to host horizon league quarterfinal game •Advanced to Horizon League Semifinal game for the first time in program history •Posted a 10-4 record in the final two months of the season •Tripled conference win total from last season •Snapped 18 game losing streak •Won four consecutive road conference games for the first time since joining the Horizon League •Posted first win at Youngstown State since 2006 •Held 15 opponents to under 60 points, in those games had a 12-3 record McCabe joined RMU after spending the 2023-24 season at University of Central Florida (UCF) in its first season in the Big 12 as an assistant to head coach Sytia Messer.   Prior to UCF, the Orlando native spent two seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at George Mason under head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis. In 2022-23, McCabe helped lead the program to its first winning season in 17 years and first .500 record in Atlantic 10 Conference play.   McCabe spent seven seasons under Blair-Lewis as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at Bethune-Cookman. Over her last five seasons with the program, she helped lead the Lady Wildcats to a 120-65 (.649) overall and 77-19 (.802) MEAC record, including the most single-season (24) and MEAC (15) wins in program history in 2017-18. McCabe was part of the staff that helped win four MEAC Regular Season Championships (first in program history) and the 2019-20 MEAC Tournament Championship, which resulted in the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. In 2017-18, McCabe handled head coaching duties with Blair-Lewis on maternity leave. The Lady Wildcats won three of those four games.   McCabe started her coaching at Henderson (AR) State as a graduate assistant earning her master's degree in sports administration in 2014 with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.   Overall, McCabe has recruited and coached 16 all-conference team selections, as well as one Player of the Year and three Defensive Players of the Year.   In 2018, McCabe was recognized by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association as one of its Thirty Under 30 honorees, a program created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches age 30 and younger at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship, professional manner and professional association involvement. A 2012 graduate of Providence, McCabe earned a bachelor's degree in social work with a minor in business management. She was a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Athletic Honors Society and was named a member of the Big East All-Academic Team.   As a player, McCabe appeared in 110 games for the Friars and served as a team captain in her senior year (2011-12). In 2009-10, she helped lead the program to its first winning campaign and postseason berth (WNIT) in 18 seasons.   McCabe graduated from Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando and won the 2008 Florida High School Athletic Association 4-A state championship in 2008. She is the daughter of Carl Koechlin and the late Wendy McCabe, who worked at Orlando’s PBS affiliate, WMFE.   WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT CHANDLER MCCABE Vanessa Blair-Lewis, George Mason Head Coach “Coach McCabe was a loyal member of my coaching staff for 10 years and she helped me build championship teams. She is a relentless recruiter who seeks to develop meaningful relationships with her players both on-and-off the court. She is a consummate professional, a skilled tactician who possesses a passion and enthusiasm for this game that is unmatched. Coach McCabe is a tremendous coach but an even better person. RMU is blessed to have her as their new head coach.”   Shauna Green, Illinois Head Coach “RMU got an absolute star in Chandler McCabe. From coaching her in college to watching her progression as a coach there are consistent characteristics that make her elite. Her passion, work ethic and ability to build relationships will pay dividends right away. She brings a wealth of experience as an elite recruiter and also a head coach when she had to step in for Coach Blair-Lewis. She knows what it takes to win championships and I know will work tirelessly to bring RMU to that level.   Mark Kellogg, West Virginia Head Coach “What a great day for RMU women’s basketball with the hire of Chandler McCabe. She will lead the program with a contagious energy, passion and enthusiasm. She will work tirelessly to recruit high character and talented student-athletes that can excel both on and off the court. There is no doubt in my mind that Chandler will have tremendous success at RMU.”   Kenneth “KP” Pannell, ESPN HoopGurlz Scout “Chandler has always been a coach who cares about the game. Her relationships have allowed her to be one of the best recruiters I have encountered. Chandler will do well because she refuses to be out-worked. Not only will she be a successful head coach, she will change her players lives.”  

Eddie Benton joined RMU's women's basketball staff on April 8, 2024. A native of the Manchester neighborhood on Pittsburgh’s North Side, Benton brings over 28 years of Division I, Division III, high school and AAU coaching experience. Benton returns to the college ranks after leading Oakland Catholic for the last two seasons where he had an overall record of 52-8. In his first season, Benton led the Eagles 26-5 record, the WPIAL Class 5A Section III title and a berth in the WPIAL finals. Oakland Catholic advanced to the semifinals of the PIAA State Championship. For his efforts, he was named the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Class 5A Coach of the Year. This past season, Benton’s squad started the season 22-0, repeated as section champions and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals. Prior to leading Oakland Catholic, Benton spent the 2021-22 season at Mississippi State as an assistant coach. In his year with the Bulldogs, he coached a pair of All-SEC players including Anastasia Hayes who was a finalist for the Gillom Trophy, which is awarded to the best basketball player in Mississippi.   During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, Benton was an assistant coach at Brown. He coached two Ivy League All-Conference players, one being Shayna Mehta, who finished her career as Brown’s second all-time scorer and the Ivy’s 11th all-time scorer.   In the 2017-18 season, Benton was an assistant coach at Cincinnati. He helped guide the Bearcats to 19 victories – the most in 15 years. The Bearcats advanced to their first-ever berth in the American Athletic Conference tournament semifinals and earned a berth in the WNIT. Individually, he coached the AAC Freshman of the Year IImar'I Thomas.   Before Cincinnati, Benton was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Duquesne for three seasons. He helped guide the Dukes to 71 victories, the 2016 Atlantic 10 regular season title and the school’s first ever NCAA tournament appearance – also in 2016. Additionally, Duquesne earned bids to the WNIT in 2014 and 2015. He coached six Atlantic 10 All-Conference players a total of 12 times including the 2016 A-10 Player and WNCA Honorable Mention selection April Robinson.   Benton was an assistant coach at Saint Francis U for the 2012-13 season. He helped the Red Flash advance to the Northeast Conference championship game and earn its first-ever berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational. Under is tutelage, Alli Williams was an All-NEC First Team selection.   From 2004-12 Benton was the head coach at LaRoche University where he led the Lady Redhawks to back-to-back Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference championships and NCAA Division III Tournament berths. In his eight years at the helm, Benton's teams won 108 games. Benton was named the AMCC Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012.   Before coaching on the women's side, Benton served as a men's assistant coach at RMU for three years under Mark Schmidt after spending two years as an assistant coach with the men's program at La Roche.   In addition to coaching college and high school, Benton had coached with the Western Pennsylvania Bruins AAU program and owns BentForce Basketball, a training and consulting company with his wife Daynia La-Force.   As a player, Benton was a standout guard Vermont. The Catamounts’ all-time leading scorer and 2006 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Benton was the winner of the 1996 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award given to the nation's top basketball player less than 6-feet tall and the Bob Cousy Award, which is given to the best senior in the region under 6-feet tall.   Benton's 2,474 points is second all-time in the America East Conference, second only to the late Reggie Lewis of Northeastern. He graduated as the school's career leader in 15 different offensive categories including scoring average - 23.8 points per game. Benton, who was 1996 team captain, has his number 10 retired by Vermont in 2000. He scored over 40 points in a game six times, including a school and conference record 54 points against Drexel his sophomore season. In that game, Benton made a school and conference record 21 foul shots. He also had a school record 42 consecutive free throws over the course of four games his freshman year. He finished with a school and conference record 739 free throws.   Benton was a First Team All-America East selection all four seasons and was the league's 1993 Rookie of the Year. He was also selected as part of the America East 20th Anniversary All-Star Team. Benton was a three-time NABC District I First-Team All-Star (1994, 95, 96) and the 1993 NABC District I Rookie of the Year as well as a three-time ECAC All-Star (1993, 1994, 1996) and 1993 ECAC Rookie of the Year. Additionally, he was named USBWA All-District in 1993 and 1994.   After graduating with his degree in sociology, he played professionally in the CBA with the Grand Rapids Hoops. After the CBA, Benton continued his playing career overseas in Israel, Holland and Venezuela.   In high school, Benton was named to the 1992 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous Five team and was also All-City League performer. During his junior year, he led Commodores to the 1991 PIAA Championship. During his senior year, Benton was selected to the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic where he won the three-point shootout.   Benton has four children - daughter Ny’Asia Benton is a junior on RMU’s track and field team, son Eddie Benton, III is a freshman on RMU's Football team, son Terance Mann plays for Brooklyn Nets and Martin Mann, who played college basketball at Pace University and Dickinson College. His wife Daynia, who he married in 2019, has been head coach at the University of New Haven, Northeastern University and Rhode Island University and an assistant coach with WNBA’s Atlanta Dream. She is currently the executive director of the Terance Mann Complete Player Foundation.  

Trosper joined RMU Women's Basketball coaching staff on April 15, 2024   Trosper arrives in Moon Township after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Mississippi. This past season, Trosper helped guide the Lady Golden Eagles to a WNIT appearance while coaching two members of the 2024 Sun Belt. During his tenure at Southern Miss, Trosper has helped develop and coach seven all-conference players as he was also named a WER Mid Major Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist in 2023.   Prior to his stint at Southern Miss, Trosper spent two seasons at Wabash Valley College. He spent the 2017-18 season as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach for the 2018-19 campaign. In that season, Trosper led at Wabash Valley to a 32-1 overall record, a No. 1 ranking and its first undefeated regular season in program history. The Warriors were the No. 1 overall seed and earned a berth in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual-runner up New Mexico. A pair of Warriors earned All-American accolades and Trosper was named 2019 GRAC, District P and IBCA Coach of the Year.   Before Wabash Valley, Trosper was the head coach at Southeastern Illinois College from 2014-17, turning around the women's program with a previous three-year record of 16-71 into a record of 55-37. In his final season, Trosper finished with a 26-6 record and the team was recognized in the NJCAA Top 25 rankings for the first time in 10 years. The Falcons competed in the District P Championship, falling short to No. 13 Wabash Valley 67-69. Trosper coached three Freshmen of the Year, one Player of the Year, one All-American and several All-Conference and All-Region selections. He was named the Region 24 and GRAC Coach of the Year in 2017.   A graduate of Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, Trosper earned a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology in 2010. While at A&M, he was also a student assistant for the men's basketball program that won the 2007 Southland Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships.

Laryn Edwards joined RMU Women's Basketball staff on April 10, 2024. A native of Allison Park, PA, Edwards brings Division I playing and coaching experience to the Colonials. Edwards comes to RMU after spending the last year and a half as a graduate assistant coach at Providence College. Her duties included the management of the team’s managers and practice squad, game-day preparation, recruiting, equipment/inventory solutions and individual player development in addition to day-to-day operations. Going into the 2023-24 season at Providence, Laryn had the opportunity to also resume her playing career due to a COVID-19 additional year of eligibility. Edwards appeared in 15 games for the Friars last season while earning nine starts. Prior to joining the Providence in 2022, Edwards played four seasons of Division I basketball at Loyola (MD). Edwards played in 65 games (41 as a starter), registering an average of 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and one steal. Laryn had nine double digit games, including a career-high 19 points against Colgate in 2020. Edwards was a standout two-sport athlete at Hampton High School. She was a two-time All-Section honoree and helped guide the Talbots to Section Championships in 2016 and 2017. Edwards was also a member of Hampton’s track and field team and was a WPIAL finalist in the 200-meter and PIAA State Qualifier in the 1,600-meter relay. Edwards also qualified for the U.S Track and Field Nationals in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Edwards was selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) to be part of the “You Want To Be A Coach Program” at the Women’s Final Four in Glendale, Arizona. Edwards was one of 54 female collegiate basketball players selected to participate in the exclusive program. The goal of the program is to assist aspiring coaches in getting Division I coaching opportunities through education, skills enhancement, networking, and exposure opportunities. Edwards has a BBA and Masters of Business Administration from Loyola and will graduate from Providence in May with an additional MBA. Edwards was awarded the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award for outstanding academic and athletic achievement in 2022 while at Loyola. Laryn is the daughter of Portia and Eddie Edwards Jr. and has two brothers, James and Eddie III.