Women's Basketball
Mahoney , Jill
Jill Mahoney
- Title:
- Director of Basketball Operations
- Year At CU:
- 5th Season
- Alma Mater:
- Grand Canyon '08
- E-mail:
- jill.mahoney@colorado.edu
- Phone:
- 303-492-2798
Jill Mahoney is in her fifth season with the University of Colorado women’s basketball program as the director of operations in 2020-21.
In her first year in 2016-17, Mahoney helped the Buffs to one of the best single-season turnarounds in school history as they more than doubled their win total from the previous year. CU finished the year 17-16 overall and tied for ninth in the Pac-12, a year after a last-place finish in the conference. The Buffs also reached the third round of the WNIT, their first postseason appearance since 2014.
Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. The 10-game winning streak was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.
Three players earned postseason awards from the Pac-12, including first-team all-conference sophomore Kennedy Leonard, who was among the conference and national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio. Haley Smith and Alexis Robinson were both named honorable mention all-Pac-12 and Smith was also honorable mention for the All-Defensive team.
CU went 15-16 in Mahoney’s second season in 2017-18. The Buffs were a young squad, with eight newcomers and just two seniors. The Buffs breezed through non-conference play, finishing 9-2 with a win over No. 24 Miami (Fla.) and a Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic championship.
After a slow stretch in Pac-12 play, the Buffs finished the season strong, going 3-3 over their final six games, including facing two top-25 opponents. CU topped Utah in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament before bowing out to top seed and eventual champion Oregon.
Leonard was named first-team All-Pac-12 and was selected to the honorable mention for the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. She also broke CU’s single-season assists record. Annika Jank earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors three times, the most for a Buff since Arielle Roberson won it five times in 2012-13. She was also an honorable mention selection to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
The Buffs saw a bounce back year in 2019-20. Colorado went 12-18 in the prior season and finished 16-14 and were a presumptive WNIT selection before the tournament’s cancelation. 2019-20 was highlighted by CU’s win over No. 11 Arizona in Boulder, marking the Buffs’ first win against an AP ranked opponents since the 2016-17 season.
Mahoney previously spent two years at Western State Colorado University as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator. She handled internal operations for the athletic department in addition to serving as the head compliance officer in her role as Associate Athletic Director and SWA for the Western State Mountaineers. It was her second stint with Western after she spent one year as an assistant coach on the 2011-12 women’s basketball staff. During her tenure, she played a key role in guiding the team to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout Championship game.
Prior to her role in Western State’s athletic administration, Mahoney was an assistant coach at Southern Utah University from 2012-14 when Colorado head coach JR Payne was at the helm. Mahoney helped lead Southern Utah to the program’s first national postseason appearance and first conference championship over her two-year term. In addition to her coaching duties, Mahoney coordinated team travel, monitored academic progress, created scouting reports, coordinated game film and managed community service for the Thunderbirds.
Before her first term with the Mountaineers, Mahoney made her coaching debut as an assistant at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. In four years on the Antelopes’ staff, she helped GCU win a trio of Pacific West Conference Championships and the team made two appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, first in 2010 and then again in 2011 with the squad advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Mahoney, a Russell, Kan. native, was named the Newcomer of the Year and earned a first-team all-conference selection during her three-year playing career at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. A standout guard-forward, she then spent her final year of eligibility at Grand Canyon, leading the team to a perfect record in conference play and also received all-conference honors.
Mahoney earned her bachelor’s degree in corporate fitness and wellness, and a master’s degree in education administration both from Grand Canyon.
In her first year in 2016-17, Mahoney helped the Buffs to one of the best single-season turnarounds in school history as they more than doubled their win total from the previous year. CU finished the year 17-16 overall and tied for ninth in the Pac-12, a year after a last-place finish in the conference. The Buffs also reached the third round of the WNIT, their first postseason appearance since 2014.
Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. The 10-game winning streak was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.
Three players earned postseason awards from the Pac-12, including first-team all-conference sophomore Kennedy Leonard, who was among the conference and national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio. Haley Smith and Alexis Robinson were both named honorable mention all-Pac-12 and Smith was also honorable mention for the All-Defensive team.
CU went 15-16 in Mahoney’s second season in 2017-18. The Buffs were a young squad, with eight newcomers and just two seniors. The Buffs breezed through non-conference play, finishing 9-2 with a win over No. 24 Miami (Fla.) and a Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic championship.
After a slow stretch in Pac-12 play, the Buffs finished the season strong, going 3-3 over their final six games, including facing two top-25 opponents. CU topped Utah in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament before bowing out to top seed and eventual champion Oregon.
Leonard was named first-team All-Pac-12 and was selected to the honorable mention for the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. She also broke CU’s single-season assists record. Annika Jank earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors three times, the most for a Buff since Arielle Roberson won it five times in 2012-13. She was also an honorable mention selection to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
The Buffs saw a bounce back year in 2019-20. Colorado went 12-18 in the prior season and finished 16-14 and were a presumptive WNIT selection before the tournament’s cancelation. 2019-20 was highlighted by CU’s win over No. 11 Arizona in Boulder, marking the Buffs’ first win against an AP ranked opponents since the 2016-17 season.
Mahoney previously spent two years at Western State Colorado University as Associate Athletic Director and Senior Women’s Administrator. She handled internal operations for the athletic department in addition to serving as the head compliance officer in her role as Associate Athletic Director and SWA for the Western State Mountaineers. It was her second stint with Western after she spent one year as an assistant coach on the 2011-12 women’s basketball staff. During her tenure, she played a key role in guiding the team to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout Championship game.
Prior to her role in Western State’s athletic administration, Mahoney was an assistant coach at Southern Utah University from 2012-14 when Colorado head coach JR Payne was at the helm. Mahoney helped lead Southern Utah to the program’s first national postseason appearance and first conference championship over her two-year term. In addition to her coaching duties, Mahoney coordinated team travel, monitored academic progress, created scouting reports, coordinated game film and managed community service for the Thunderbirds.
Before her first term with the Mountaineers, Mahoney made her coaching debut as an assistant at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. In four years on the Antelopes’ staff, she helped GCU win a trio of Pacific West Conference Championships and the team made two appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament, first in 2010 and then again in 2011 with the squad advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
Mahoney, a Russell, Kan. native, was named the Newcomer of the Year and earned a first-team all-conference selection during her three-year playing career at Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kan. A standout guard-forward, she then spent her final year of eligibility at Grand Canyon, leading the team to a perfect record in conference play and also received all-conference honors.
Mahoney earned her bachelor’s degree in corporate fitness and wellness, and a master’s degree in education administration both from Grand Canyon.
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