"I feel like we have hired a tremendous coach, mentor, teacher and someone who is very familiar with Seattle U, as a grad, in Dorena," said Bonvicini. "She has a tremendous amount of experience not only on the West Coast, but also across the country at a very high level. In addition, Dorena boasts excellent experience coaching elite athlete for travel ball, on her high school teams and at the USA level; which is a real credit to her.
"I think she'll bring passion, be an excellent teacher and a good recruiter here at Seattle U. She adds a great balance to our staff, but I think the best thing is she's an excellent coach and an even better person."
Bingham joins the collegiate ranks for the first time in her two decades of coaching. She currently is an assistant coach for USA Basketball's U17 women's team. During her tenure with USA Basketball, she helped guide the U17 team to the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championships and the U16 squad to the 2009 gold medal at the FIBA Americas tournament. Bingham has also been the head coach of Team Alaska's AAU team since 1991 and coached the varsity basketball team at East Anchorage High School for 15 season, where she guided her team's to 10 Alaska State Tournaments and three titles.
"I am very happy and excited to be joining the Seattle University women's basketball program," said Bingham. "Seattle U is my alma mater and is a very important place for me, so it is a thrill to return here to coach. At SU there is a great and proud tradition for excellence and I am grateful to be joining that. I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and the great student-athletes on the women's basketball team."
Bingham has a storied history with Bonvicini and her coaching staff. She was also the former AAU coach of current Redhawk redshirt senior Talisa Rhea (Anchorage, Alaska).
She will assist with all aspects of the program, working with both the guards and post players. Additionally, she will assist with the team's recruiting efforts.