Shelby Boyle Named to WBCA's Thirty Under 30 List
March 28, 2024 | Women's Basketball
Boyle, who finished her second year as an assistant, is the only assistant from the ACC to be honored by the WBCA.Â
"Shelby Boyle is exactly what our profession needs. She is bright, funny, hardworking, loyal, and passionate about the game of basketball," said head coach Joanna Bernabei-McNamee. Over the past four years, she has made a positive impact on The Heights. Being one of the youngest Power Five assistant coaches in the country, she has created a nurturing and empowering culture where every player feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. Shelby is an excellent mentor and role model. She is highly deserving of the 30 under 30 national recognition."
In her time at Boston College, she quickly earned her way to the assistant position after receiving her master's degree as a graduate assistant.Â
Boyle has played a pivotal role in the development of Andrea Daley and Dontavia Waggoner. Â Waggoner has turned into one of the top defensive players in the nation. She finished second in the ACC and ninth in the country with 99 steals. Her three steals per game were third in the league and 11th in the nation.Â
Waggoner set the single-season program record in steals and ended the year third all-time in school history with 200 swipes. She was named to the ACC All-Defensive Team for the first time in her career this past season. In 2022-23, she made the 2023 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List and was nominated for ACC Most Improved Player of the Year. She averaged 12.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.0 steals and shot a career-high 44.4 percent from the field. She was one of four players in the country to average at least 12 points, 6.0 rebounds, and three steals per game.Â
Daley made another leap this season, where she averaged a career-high 13.2 points, shot a career-high 50.3 percent from the field and 5.4 rebounds per game. The rising senior guard increased her scoring output by 3.6 points per game, was second on the team in scoring and fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage. Daley was nominated for ACC Most Improved Player of the Year and the All-ACC team.Â
Boyle was promoted to assistant coach after being a graduate assistant for two years and serving a short stint as the director of player development in the summer.Â
Boyle in her first season as one of, if not the youngest assistant Power Five coach, helped the Eagles earn their first top-10 win since 2010 with a road triumph at then-No. 9/10 NC State.Â
The WBCA Thirty Under 30 program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches aged 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement. A total of 31 coaches received the honor this year due to a tie in the selection process.
"Congratulations to these 31 coaches who have distinguished themselves so early in their careers," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The WBCA is pleased to recognize this up-and-coming talent in our coaching family. We celebrate their effort on the basketball court as teachers and equally applaud the extensive role they play in impacting the lives of their student-athletes."
