Meredith Mesaris returns to the Vassar sidelines for her second season as Head Coach in 2024-25. Mesaris was named the program's head coach in August of 2023 following assistant coaching stops at Dartmouth College, Williams College, and most recently the University of Hartford.
In her first season in Poughkeepsie, Mesaris led Vassar to a 25-3 overall record and a 17-1 mark against Liberty League opponents. The Brewers topped rival Skidmore 44-32 in the conference championship game to secure the program’s first Liberty League crown since 2014 and appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2019.
Mesaris mentored Tova Gelb, Julia Harvey and Sierra McDermed to First Team All-Liberty League selections in 2023-24 and headlined the conference’s Coaching Staff of the Year with assistant coach Morgan McCrea. Gelb, Haryvey and McDermed were all named D3Hoops.com All-Region III selections, with Gelb and McDermed securing All-Metropolitan Writers’ Association accolades.
Mesaris added to her resume with two other accolades after being named D3Hoops.com Region III Coach of the Year and a WBCA Thirty Under 30 honoree.
During her time at Hartford, Mesaris assisted and collaborated with the transition from Division I to Division III, which involves changes throughout the operational staff, roster and development of a program entering a new conference. She was responsible for creating a detailed recruiting plan along with identifying potential prospects in the recruiting trail. Mesaris also helped with film breakdown and analysis to prepare for games.
Prior to Mesaris' stint with the Hawks, she spent a season as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College from 2021-22. Mesaris was heavily involved in the nationwide effort to identify future student-athletes that could be successful with the academic rigors of Dartmouth. Meredith worked primarily with the post players, as well as having responsibilities in nearly every aspect of the program, from scouting and video to recruiting and practice planning and execution.
Mesaris spent five seasons as an assistant at Williams College from 2016-21, where she was responsible for in-game management, play calling, in-game strategy and tactical revisions. Mesaris was part of the team's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2013 during the 2019-20 season as well as the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2016. She was also heavily included in the recruiting of all Williams College student-athletes and was responsible for the planning and execution of all practice plans.
Mesaris began her coaching career at Hendrix College in 2015 as she helped the team improve from a sub .500 record to a 19-7 record. Mesaris mentored two All-Southern Athletic Association players as well as one conference Player of the Year and an All-American selection.
Mesaris was a four-year starter for the University of Scranton from 2012-15 and holds countless records in both the Landmark Conference as well as in Scranton history. She concluded her career with 1,758 points, which is the best mark all-time in Landmark Conference history and averaged 17.9 points per game in her illustrious career. Mesaris was named the Landmark Conference Player of the Year in 2015 and was named to the WBCA All-American team twice. She also was named First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region by D3Hoops in 2015 and was a Third-Team All-American in the same season.
Mesaris also collected multiple academic honors in her four years as a Lady Royal as she was named to the Landmark Conference Academic Honor Roll three times and was honored as the Women's Basketball Senior Scholar Athlete for the 2014-15 academic year. She was also named to the COSIDA District IV All-Academic team twice in 2014 and 2015 and garnered a Second Team Academic All-American selection in 2015.
Mesaris graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Scranton in 2015 with a bachelor's degree in Management with a minor in Coaching. She earned her master's degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020 in Sports Management.
Mesaris At Vassar
| Year |
Overall |
Liberty League |
Notes |
| 2023-24 |
25-3 |
17-1 |
Liberty League Champions
NCAA Tournament First Round
Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year
D3Hoops.Com Region III Coach of the Year
WBCA Thirty Under 30 Honoree |
| Total |
25-3 |
17-1 |
|
Milestones
1st Win: 72-59 vs. Montclair State (11/11/23)
25th Win: 44-32 vs. Skidmore (2/25/24 - Liberty League Championship Game)
