University of Vermont Athletics

CAREER HONORS

• 119–81 (.595) record as Mayer Women's Basketball Head Coach
• Nov. 4, 2024: Earned the program’s first-ever win over an SEC opponent with a victory against Missouri
• 2023-24: Earned a WNIT bid and made it to the Fab 4 
• 2023-24: America East Runner Up 
• 2022–23: Coached the Catamounts to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2009–10 season
• 2022–23: ECAC Division I Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year
• 2022–23: America East Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year

Alisa Kresge was named the ninth head coach in Vermont women’s basketball history on April 9, 2019, after successfully leading the Catamounts as interim head coach during the 2018–19 season. That year, she guided Vermont to 11 wins and a fifth-place finish in America East. This was the program’s best mark since 2009–10. Her 11 victories were also the most by a first-year Catamount head coach since 2003–04.

The 2024–25 season marked Kresge’s seventh year at Vermont and seventh as head coach. She previously served as associate head coach from 2016–18. Over her six full seasons and interim campaign, Kresge has led Vermont to a 118–81 record, including a 70–35 mark in America East play.

Kresge continued her success in 2024–25, guiding the Catamounts to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and a fourth consecutive 20-win season. Vermont placed four players on All-Conference teams, while Bella Vito became the third Catamount ever named Defensive Player of the Year. The team also ranked among the nation’s top 10 in scoring defense for the third consecutive season.

The 2022-23 season was Kresge’s seventh year with the Catamounts, and her fourth year as head coach. She served as the associate head coach from 2016-2018. In her four full seasons at the helm and her interim season, Kresge has led Vermont to a 72-56 mark (42-28 AE).

In 2022–23, Kresge led Vermont to one of its most successful seasons in program history. The Catamounts returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009–10, winning the America East Championship and sharing the regular-season title for the first time since 2001–02. Vermont also recorded its most home wins at Patrick Gym (15) and most America East victories (12) since 2009–10.

During the 2022–23 campaign, Vermont rattled off a 17-game win streak, the longest in Kresge’s tenure and the program’s best since 1992–93. The streak ranked third nationally behind only No. 1 South Carolina and South Dakota State. The Catamounts’ 25 wins were the most since 2009–10, as Kresge guided UVM to the NCAA Tournament first round against No. 2 UConn.

Vermont finished the 2022–23 season among the nation’s elite statistically, ranking 10th in scoring defense (54.1 ppg allowed), 19th in three-point percentage (36.5%), and 17th in fewest fouls per game (13.6). The Catamounts were also 32nd in winning percentage (.781) and 48th in field goal defense (37.4%).

Even during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Kresge guided Vermont to a 4–2 record, all in America East play.

In 2021–22, the Catamounts went 20–11 overall (13–5 AE), their best finish in over a decade, and reached the America East semifinals. Kresge coached multiple All-Conference honorees, including Rookie of the Year Catherine Gilwee, Emma Utterback (First Team), Anna Olson (Second Team), and Josie Larkins (Third Team). Utterback was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Earlier in her tenure, Kresge mentored 2019 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Hanna Crymble.

Before joining Vermont, Kresge spent seven seasons (2009–16) as an assistant coach at Marist College, her alma mater. During that span, the Red Foxes compiled a 173–42 record, won five straight MAAC Tournament titles (2010–14), and earned five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. The program also reached the 2015 WNIT, advancing to face eventual semifinalist Temple.

At Marist, Kresge recruited and developed 21 All-MAAC selections, including two All-Rookie Team members and 31 All-Academic honorees. She also coached five MAAC Tournament MVPs, four MAAC Players of the Year, two MAAC Defensive Players of the Year, one Sixth Player of the Year, and two MAAC Student-Athletes of the Year.

As a player, Kresge was a standout point guard at Marist from 2003–07, graduating as the program’s all-time leader in assists (596) and ranking second in steals (222). She helped lead the Red Foxes to the 2007 NCAA Sweet 16, the first in MAAC history for either a men’s or women’s program. Kresge remains the only player in MAAC women’s basketball history to earn Defensive Player of the Year three times. She was named Third Team All-MAAC as a junior and Second Team All-MAAC as a senior.

Kresge earned her bachelor’s degree in digital media from Marist College in 2007.

*Interim Year

^UVM season shortened due to Covid-19