FITCHBURG, MA: The Fitchburg State Athletics Department and Executive Director of Athletics, Matt Burke, announced that Jonathan Mandeldove will be the University's 15th Head Women's Basketball Coach. As part of this position, Mandeldove will also assist the Director of Recreation, Brad Cohrs, in managing intramural sports programming, among other responsibilities.  

"We are delighted to announce Jonathan Mandeldove as our new Head Women's Basketball Coach," said Burke. "His experience as a player and coach at multiple levels, along with his demonstrated ability to recruit and build competitive teams, positions him perfectly to lead our women's basketball program into the future."

Mandeldove comes to Fitchburg State from Franklin Pierce University (FPU), where he served as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's basketball teams. "I want to thank Athletic Director Matt Burke and his team for the opportunity to lead this program," said Mandeldove. "I am truly honored and excited to lead this program and contribute to the continued growth of our student-athletes both on and off the court." During his time at FPU, he helped the women's program make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 11 years. That team boasted a 20-11 record and finished 13-9 in NE10 action. Mandeldove helped coach the 2024 NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, Anna Badosa Soler. He also worked as a student advocate on campus at FPU, collaborating closely with the office of Student Success. 

Before Franklin Pierce, Mandeldove was at Elizabeth City State University, where he assisted the Athletics Department in various roles. He served as the assistant men's basketball coach, a student success coach, and collaborated with Student Counseling Services. Mandeldove has numerous certifications; in this instance, he applied his certification in Mental Health First Aid while working with student-athletes on their mental health and developing programs that provided counseling service resources.

Mandeldove has also coached extensively at the high school level for both men's and women's basketball. He spent time at Winchendon Academy, Woodstock Academy, Cheshire Academy, and Syracuse Academy of Science. He held either a head or assistant coaching position at each institution and served as the Athletics Director at Syracuse Academy of Science.

Mandeldove played professionally for three years, spending time in Peru, France, and China. He was also a student-athlete on the UCONN Huskies men's basketball team from 2006 to 2010, where he played for Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. Mandeldove's senior season (2009-10) saw the Huskies reach the final four of the NCAA Tournament. He graduated from UCONN with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. 

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