Original article (Women’s Basketball Adds Ferrara to Staff) on the University of New Mexico’s athletic website golobos.com.
Head coach Mike Bradbury and The University of New Mexico women’s basketball program are pleased to announce the addition of Bill Ferrara, formerly of the University of Florida, to the 2017-18 Lobo coaching staff. Ferrara replaces former assistant coach Aarika Hughes, who recently left UNM to return to her alma mater, USC, as an assistant coach.
“I am excited to have Bill join our staff,” Bradbury said. “His experience in recruiting as well as player development will be a huge asset. I look forward to Bill making an immediate impact here with the Lobos.”
Ferrara comes to UNM from the University of Florida where he spent the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons with the Gators and was primarily responsible for overseeing the development of guards as well as coordinating camps and clinics for UF.
During his tenure with the Gators, Ferrara helped lead UF to earning the No. 5 seed in the 2015-16 NCAA Tournament and was instrumental in guiding the team’s offense during the same season in which the Gators led the SEC in scoring offense for the first time in program history. Also in 2015-16, Ferrara’s squad was ranked as high as No. 16 in the nation in scoring offense just one year after being ranked No. 222 in the country. He also helped mark the second-best single-season turnaround when the Gators won nine more games in 2015-16 than in 2014-15.
He also guided two freshmen to All-SEC Freshman Team Honors in guards Eleanna Ghristinaki and Delicia Washington while at Florida.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to work with Coach Bradbury, Coach King, Coach Grant and the rest of the staff to help bring New Mexico back to the top of the Mountain West,” coach Ferrara said. “I am extremely grateful to be a part of one of the most storied programs in all of women’s basketball. Lobo fans are among the most passionate women’s basketball fans in the country and I am looking forward to celebrating a lot of wins with them in The Pit!”
Prior to his time at UF, Ferrara spent two seasons at George Washington University where he was instrumental in recruiting, player development, strength and conditioning as well as working with post players. He helped GW earn the No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament while helping lead the Colonials to a program-record 29 wins (29-4 record) in the 2014-15 season. He helped implement an up-tempo offense that was among the nation’s best in both 2014 and 2015 while helping the squad to the Atlantic 10 Regular-Season and Tournament championships.
In his two seasons at GW, Ferrara guided three all-conference nominees including an Atlantic 10 Player and Defensive Player of the Year and an Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.
Ferrara also spent three seasons at Hofstra University (2011-14) and at Central Michigan (2008-11) where he helped lead both programs to outstanding success. Serving as recruiting coordinator at Hofstra, he assembled the sixth-best recruiting class among mid-majors in 2012 according to ESPN Hoopgurlz and oversaw the Pride’s offense. The team increased its scoring average from 62.2 points per game before his arrival to 75.0 ppg in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Similarly, at Central Michigan he orchestrated an offensive turnaround, leading the Chippewas to a 12.0 ppg scoring average increase from 2007-08 to 2008-09 in his first season in charge of the offense.
Ferrara, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in business management in 2003 before earning a master’s degree in sport management in 2005.
He currently resides in Albuquerque with his wife Courtney and two daughters, Callie and Maya.