Former Blue Knight basketball standout and Urbana University alum Haley Ducey was appointed Head Women’s Basketball Coach in July of 2014.

“After an extensive national search, we decided that the best person for this job was already here on campus,” explained former Athletic Director Doug Young. “I have known Haley since she signed to play at Urbana University out of high school in 2007. She was an exemplary student-athlete for four years, a dedicated assistant coach for two years, and a loyal employee and recruiter in the admissions office these past two years. We are proud to have a true Blue Knight take charge of one of our most successful programs.”

After sitting out her freshman season with a knee injury, Ducey completed one of the most successful three-year runs as a Blue Knight in program history. She finished with 755 career points in 82 games for the Royal Blue and White. Despite being limited to just three seasons, she finished 12th all-time in career assists, sixth in three-point shooting percentage, and first in free throw percentage.

Urbana averaged over 15 wins a season during Ducey's career, which fell entirely under the tutelage of acclaimed Head Coach Rob Phillips, who won 263 games in 17 years in charge of the Blue Knight women’s basketball program. Twice, Ducey was named team captain and earned NCAA Division II All-Independent Team honors. A leader on the court and in the classroom, Ducey was also a regular on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and Dean's List.

Ducey joined Phillips’ coaching staff as a graduate assistant after completing her playing career as a Blue Knight in 2011. Just before her first season as an assistant, Phillips resigned as Head Coach.

Ducey briefly stepped in as the interim Head Coach, leading the squad to her first career head coaching victory on December 13, 2011, a 67-57 decision over Salem International University. The next week, she handed the reins of the program over to new Head Coach Maria Marchesano. With Ducey's assistance, Marchesano earned D-II Independent Coach of the Year honors that season. After the transition, the Blue Knights captured eight straight home games and ended the year with 12 wins in 19 contests. The following season, Marchesano and Ducey guided the Blue Knights to a G-MAC Championship, the program’s first conference title since Phillips’ heyday in the late 1990’s.

During Ducey’s two-year stint as a graduate assistant, she earned an MBA at her alma mater. Ducey’s undergraduate degree was in Sports Management. Since receiving her Master’s Degree in the spring of 2013, Ducey has served the University as an Admissions Counselor.