North Central College (NCC) has named former Riverside-Brookfield High School star Maggie McCloskey-Bax its new women’s basketball coach.
McCloskey-Bax, who starred collegiately at Loyola, replaces Michelle Roof, who resigned late last fall. An assistant at nearby Carthage for the past five seasons, McCloskey-Bax becomes the 11th coach in school history.
McCloskey-Bax said she has always had her eye on NCC.
Maggie McCloskey-Bax
“Once I heard about it, I was anxious to go for it,” she told the Chicago Tribune. “It checked all the boxes. It was an ideal situation. I think the location, the academics and everything about North Central is great. There’s a lot about this program I thought was perfect.”
While McCloskey-Bax’s arrival is much anticipated, she knows her job won’t be easy.
Roof engineered four of the 12 highest-scoring seasons in NCAA Division III history during her eight seasons using a high tempo style known as “The System.”
“I’m not going to be able to run the offense that I want right away because I have to ease out of ‘The System,’” McCloskey-Bax added to the Tribune. “We’ll be high energy. The girls want to have some fun with it.”
At Carthage, McCloskey-Bax’s imprint was all over the program. The past three newcomers of the year in the school’s conference came from Carthage, with McCloskey-Bax serving as the recruiting coordinator.
“All of her local ties in the Chicagoland area will be beneficial,” NCC Athletic Director Miller said. “She’s been in the conference at a school that is really good at recruiting.”
The change also brings McCloskey-Bax closer to her father, legendary Montini and Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball coach Tom McCloskey, who just retired.
“I grew up in the gym ever since I was 5, going to my dad’s practices,” McCloskey-Bax said. “I grew up idolizing my dad. He taught me as a player how to play high-level basketball. He’s taught me so much. He’s excited to come watch me coach.”
Alerts Sign-up