WATERVILLE – Lory Gear McBride, who helped with a national championship at the University of North Carolina in 1994, has been named head women’s basketball coach at Colby College.

Gear McBride is a collegiate head coach for the first time, but she has plenty of experience as an assistant coach at the Division I level. She spent five years as an assistant coach at Seton Hall University (1998-2003), including two years as assistant head coach. Gear McBride also was an assistant at University of North Carolina-Charlotte during the 2003-2004 season.

Gear McBride returned to New Jersey last year after the season at UNC-Charlotte to take the basketball head coaching position at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. She led the team to a 24-5 record, a berth in the state playoffs and the Union County championship. Three of her players will continue their careers at the Division I level this season