BREAKING: For the first time in over five decades, there will be a new girls basketball coach at Irvington High School.
Gina Maher informed her team last night that she is retiring after 50 of the most decorated, influential and inspiring seasons of any coach in the history of Westchester County sports.
Yes, 50 years.
Maher won a state-record 814 games, 18 Section 1 championships, six state titles and five Federation crowns. Sheโs in the New York State Basketball, Westchester County Sports Hall of Fames, as well as a recipient of countless distinguished career achievement awards.
For Maher, it was just time. She said she spent months coming to the decision, spoke about with her sons Neil and Chris, as well as close friends. But she's ready to hand the program off to the next generation.
โFifty years is enough," Maher said. "I am ready. And we are fortunate to have two wonderful people ready to take over the program in B.J. Constantine and Kaitlin Degnan. It's time.โ
Maher lives one block away from Irvington High School and intends to stay close to the community. She will remain
@IrvBulldogs girls tennis and the Unified basketball coach. And you will still see her at girls basketball games around the section all season.
Nobody I've personally ever been around will leave a greater legacy; not to
@SecOneAthletics, to
@NYSPHSAA, to
@sogbca, to young female athletes, or even to my own my family.
If there is ever going to be a Mount Rushmore for athletics in our area, Gina Maher would be the first face on it; as a a coach, a role model, a mentor and a person.
Please join me in thanking Coach Maher for her years and wishing her the best in her retirement.