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May 1, 2006

PITTSBURGH - Pitt women's basketball head coach Agnus Berenato joined select company when she was honored as the Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year on Sunday evening at the Hilton Pittsburgh.

Berenato, along with recently retired Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, were honorees at the 70th Annual Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction. The sold-out event featured many of Southwestern Pennsylvania's sports legends and dignitaries.

"To receive this honor is a tremendous complement that I will share with my staff and student-athletes," Berenato said after being introduced by University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. "I am thankful to Pittsburgh and the surrounding communities for welcoming me and my family and for letting us be a part of this great sports city. I'm also very proud to be a part of a winning team at the University of Pittsburgh with Chancellor Nordenberg and our Athletic Director Jeff Long."

Berenato is the first Dapper Dan Sportswoman of the Year from the University of Pittsburgh, and joins a stellar list of former Sportsman of the Year winners with Pitt ties, including Larry Fitzgerald (2003), Ben Howland (2002), Roger Kingdom (1989), Dan Marino (1983), Jackie Sherrill (1981), Hugh Green (1980), Tony Dorsett (1976), Johnny Majors (1973), John Michelosen (1955 and 1963) and Lowell P. "Red" Dawson (1952).

The Panthers' women's basketball program had a historic 2005-06 campaign, tying the school record with 22 victories, including a run to the semifinals of the WNIT. After being picked to finish 13th out of 16 schools in the Big East Conference, Berenato led Pitt to a sixth-place finish and three postseason wins for the first time in the program's 32-year history.

Berenato's accomplishments become even more impressive when considering this was just her third year at the helm. That didn't stop Berenato and her staff from improving Pitt's victory total by 16 over the past two seasons.

Joining Berenato, Nordenberg and Long on the dais were All-Big East honorees Marcedes Walker and Mallorie Winn, along with Pitt head men's basketball coach Jamie Dixon, former Pitt basketball star and current staffer Orlando Antigua, All-Big East men's basketball honoree Aaron Gray, quarterback Tyler Palko and Pitt baseball All-American Jim Negrych.