University of New Hampshire Athletics
Megan Shoniker - Staff Directory
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
Now in her third season as head coach of the University of New Hampshire women's basketball program in 2026-27, Megan Shoniker has quickly reestablished a competitive foundation in Durham, leading the Wildcats to back-to-back America East Championship appearances while fostering a culture centered on toughness, defense and player development.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Shoniker guided UNH to a 7-6 record at Lundholm Gymnasium, including victories in each of the Wildcats' final two home games of the season. UNH also laid claim to Granite State bragging rights with dominant victories against in-state opponents, including a 74-38 win over Dartmouth and a 76-29 triumph against New England College. The Wildcats earned a second consecutive berth in the America East Championship while continuing to take strides both competitively and culturally.
Shoniker made an immediate impact in her first season at UNH in 2024-25. She recorded her first career head coaching victory with an 83-34 win over Worcester State on Nov. 4, 2024, at Lundholm Gymnasium before leading the Wildcats to a 48-45 road victory at UMass three days later. UNH added impressive non-conference victories against Northeastern (58-31) and Boston University (69-60) and later defeated Dartmouth, 64-57, to establish itself as New Hampshire's top Division I women's basketball program.
The Wildcats earned their first America East victory under Shoniker with a 56-39 win against UMBC on Jan. 16, 2025. UNH continued to improve throughout the season and advanced to the America East Championship, laying the groundwork for the success that followed in her second year.
One of Shoniker's most notable accomplishments has been the development of guard Eva DeChent into one of the premier players in the America East Conference. Under Shoniker's guidance, DeChent earned America East Newcomer of the Year and All-America East First Team honors in 2024-25 before adding All-America East Second Team recognition in 2025-26. DeChent led the conference in steals, free throws made and free throws attempted during the 2025-26 season while ranking second in scoring at 17.8 points per game. She also collected multiple America East Player of the Week awards during Shoniker's first two seasons.
Prior to arriving in Durham, Shoniker spent five seasons on the coaching staff at Rhode Island, including her final two as associate head coach. During her tenure, the Rams captured an Atlantic 10 regular-season championship and enjoyed some of the most successful seasons in program history, including postseason appearances in both the WNIT and WBIT.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Shoniker was a standout player at Rhode Island before beginning a coaching career that included successful stops at St. John Fisher, Canisius, Binghamton and Rhode Island. She was named the eighth head coach in University of New Hampshire women's basketball history on April 24, 2024.
Shoniker at a Glance
- Eighth head coach in UNH women's basketball history
- Third season as head coach (2026-27)
- Back-to-back America East Championship appearances
- First career head coaching victory: Worcester State (83-34)
- First road victory: UMass (48-45)
- First America East victory: UMBC (56-39)
- Guided UNH to a 7-6 home record in 2025-26
- Led UNH to victories over Dartmouth in each of her first two seasons
- Coached Eva DeChent to America East Newcomer of the Year honors
- Coached Eva DeChent to All-America East First Team and Second Team recognition
- Developed one of the conference's premier players, as DeChent led the America East in steals, free throws made and free throws attempted in 2025-26
- Hired as the eighth head women's basketball coach in UNH history by Director of Athletics Allison Rich on April 24, 2024.
Shoniker previously served five years on the coaching staff at her alma mater, the University of Rhode Island, including two seasons as the associate head coach under head coach Tammi Reiss. URI achieved unprecedented success with her on staff. In 2023-24, the Rams reached the Atlantic 10 Championship final for just the third time in program history, and the first time since 2003. The 2022-23 URI team set a program record for victories (27) and won two games in the WNIT to advance to the Super 16 after claiming a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title for the first time ever. The Rams had back-to-back appearances in the WNIT in 2021-22 and 2022-23 for the first time in program history.
Shoniker coached three All-A10 honorees in her five years, including Rhode Island’s all-time single-season 3-point leader, Sophie Phillips. The program had just one all-conference guard in the nine years before Shoniker arrived. Rhode Island was known for its stingy defense with Shoniker as defensive coordinator, leading the Atlantic 10 in scoring defense each of the last two seasons.
Megan spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach at Binghamton University, where she was the recruiting coordinator and organized all aspects of the program's recruiting efforts, including planning of official visits and travel arrangements.
The Rochester, N.Y., native worked as an assistant coach at Canisius University in Buffalo, N.Y., for four seasons, including her final year (2017-18) as the Golden Griffins’ associate head coach/recruiting coordinator.
From 2012-14, Shoniker worked at St. John Fisher College in her hometown of Rochester. She assisted with player development, recruiting and video operations while earning her Master of Science Degree in Special Education.
Shoniker shined on the court for URI from 2007-11 and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. She was tabbed to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team and All-Academic Team. She was also named the Rhode Island Women’s Basketball Player of the Year and a Capital One Academic All-District Second Team Selection, the only player in Rams’ history to win the award. The two-time team captain’s name adorns the school’s Top-10 lists, including No. 1 in program history in minutes played/season (1,066), free throws made/game (18), free throws made/season (159) and field goal attempts/game (38). See below for a complete list of Shoniker’s URI playing records.
After her collegiate career, Shoniker played in Belarus with SBK Olimpia Grodno where she earned First-Team All-Belarusian League and First-Team All-Import in 2012.
Shoniker graduated from Greece Arcadia High School in 2007 as Monroe County’s all-time leading scorer with 2,216 points. She led the Titans to the Class AA State, Western Regional and Sectional Championships as a freshman and was a four-time All-Greater Rochester selection, Team MVP and Section V All-Tournament Team Class AA honoree.
Statement from URI head coach Tammi Reiss
“I couldn’t be any prouder or happier for Megan being named the new head women’s basketball coach at the University of New Hampshire. Since day one of joining our program Meg has diligently worked hard in gaining knowledge and growing her expertise as an assistant and associate head coach. Meg’s dream and career goal was to be a head coach and in her five years here in Kingston I watched her apply herself in all areas and aspects of the job. She has never been more ready to lead her own program with her vision. I cannot thank her enough for all that she has done for our program and our student-athletes. She has been a tremendous asset as a player and as a coach for the University of Rhode Island. This is very bittersweet for me as I hate seeing her leave but am so very happy that she fulfilled her dream. I hope New Hampshire is ready for that energy, passion, and fire that’s about to happen when Coach Shoniker steps foot on campus. They got themselves a great one.”
UNH Women’s Basketball All-Time Head Coaches
Joyce Mills 1975-1977
Cecelia DeMarco 1977-1986
Kathy Sanborn 1986-1997
Sue Johnson 1997-2007
Kristen Cole 2007-2010
Maureen Magarity 2010-2020
Kelsey Hogan 2020-2024
Megan Shoniker 2024-present
Megan Shoniker File
Education:
URI, 2011 (B.S., Physical Education); St. John Fisher, 2014 (M.S., Special Education)
Coaching Career:
2012-14 St. John Fisher College (Assistant Coach, Staff Associate)
2014-17 Canisius University (Assistant Coach)
2017-18 Canisius University (Associate Head Coach, Recruiting Coordinator)
2018-19 Binghamton University (Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator)
2019-22 University of Rhode Island (Assistant Coach)
2022-24 University of Rhode Island (Associate Head Coach)
2024-present UNH (Head Coach)
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y. (Greece Arcadia High School, 2007)
•Monroe County’s all-time leading scorer (2,216 points)
Collegiate Records: University of Rhode Island (2007-11)
Category Statistic School Rank
FT made, game 18 1
FT attempts, game 19 1
FT made, season 159 1
FT attempts, season 202 1
Minutes, season 1,066 1
FG attempts/game 38 (1.1.11 vs UNH) 1
Minutes, career 3,451 2
Points, season 530 2
Games, career 117 3
Starts, career 81 3
Points, game 35, 2x T-3
Season scoring avg. 18.9 T-3
3-pointers, career 158 5
Assists, career 301 6
FT %, career .737 7
FG attempts, career 1,236 8
FT made, career 308 8
Points, career 1,318 9
FT attempts, career 418 10
