Monmouth women's basketball coach Ginny Boggess bolting for Toledo

After revitalizing the program and ending a 40-year NCAA Tournament drought, Monmouth women’s basketball coach Ginny Boggess is leaving to become the head coach at University of Toledo, with Monmouth set to undertake a "national search" to find her replacement.

Boggess was hired by Monmouth in 2021, tabbing the Penn State assistant coach to turn around a program that had won two games the previous season. The Hawks won the CAA Tournament in her second year, the school’s first in the league, to return to March Madness for the first time since 1983.

Boggess, who has been a college coach for 21 years, including five seasons at Marquette, takes over a Toledo squad that was 28-6 last season, winning the Mid-American Conference regular season title with a 17-1 record and reaching the third round in the WBIT postseason tournament. Boggess replaces Tricia Cullop, who left to become the head coach at the University of Miami. Cullop is the winningest coach in program history, going 353-169 since taking over in 2008.

The Toledo Blade reported Wednesday that Boggess received a 5-year, $2.2 million contract.

Last season Monmouth finished second during the regular season, winning 22 games, the first 20-win season in 13 years, and picking up a high major win over St. John’s, before losing in the CAA semifinals to Drexel, the eventual champion. In her three seasons, Monmouth went 54-42, with Boggess getting a contract extension after last year’s NCAA Tournament appearance.

“We are so proud of Ginny and want to congratulate her on this next opportunity,” said Monmouth athletic director Jennifer Sansevero. “Ginny had a significant positive impact on Monmouth University, our women’s basketball program and our student-athletes. We are thankful for the job she did in elevating our program. She established a championship culture for Monmouth Women’s Basketball on and off the court.”

Filling the vacancy will be the first major coaching hire for Sansevero, elevated to interim athletic director last year, with the interim tag removed in February. It's unclear if any of the current assistant coaches will be considered for the vacancy.

“Our women’s basketball program has reached new heights, and the standard of excellence has been established,” said Sansevero. “I look forward to the future of our program as we continue to compete for championships. I am confident we will find the next great leader for the Monmouth Women’s Basketball program.”

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Monmouth women's basketball coach Ginny Boggess bolting for Toledo