Brianna Finch Outlines Vision for River Hawks Basketball

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On Monday afternoon, UMass Lowell introduced Brianna Finch to River Hawks Nation in a well-attended press conference at the Kennedy Family Athletic Center. Before the new coach took the podium, Athletic Director Lynn Coutts opened the event with a few words of her own. After thanking those in attendance, she detailed why Coach Finch was selected, highlighting four key points.

First, the AD stated that “winning matters,” but emphasized that Finch is committed to players being “students first and basketball second.” The second point focused on creating meaningful relationships, followed by a third point regarding Finch’s experience in building champions, noting the regular-season title on her resume from her time at Boston University. The fourth point was the respect she commands in the highly competitive basketball world, backed by 24 years in the business, coaching in three countries and numerous cities and states across the U.S.

When Brianna Finch took the podium, she led with a catchphrase she frequently uses with her players: “Are we better than the day before?” The eight returning players heard it for the first time on Friday and again on Monday morning. Describing herself as “fearless,” Finch expressed a desire to attack every challenge, noting that she chose UMass Lowell because “you have to run to what excites you.” She plans to implement an up-tempo style of basketball and praised her new home court, calling it “intimate” and expressing hope to pack the stands for every home game.

Finch also discussed the importance of giving back to the school, the city, and the community. She wants her players to be active outside the game, calling Lowell a “blue-collar city.” She expressed interest in working with local high school programs, possibly running youth basketball summer camps, and involving her players in local charities and programs.

Regarding the roster, Finch plans to utilize the transfer portal and international outlets to fill out the team. She expressed confidence in her ability to recruit players to UMass Lowell, noting she already has one commitment for next year who was drawn by the opportunity to play at a high level while earning a quality degree. Finch is currently in the process of finalizing her staff, telling the gathering she has only one spot left to fill. The River Hawks have had a tough couple of years; patience will be required from everyone as Finch begins the process of rebuilding the program and making it competitive once again in America East.