Michelle Brandao spent two seasons as the Chargers' graduate assistant coach from 2018-20. Her duties included assisting the head coach during practices, monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes and preparing scouting reports on opponents.
During her second season with the Chargers in 2019-20, Brandao helped pilot New Haven to its second straight appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference Quarterfinals, and second straight 18-win season with an 18-9 record. The Chargers finished the season ninth in the nation in Division II in scoring defense, holding opponents to just 53.7 points per game. NE10 All-Rookie selection Aurora Deshaies led the conference in field goal pct. (.565), senior Micah Wormack earned Second Team All-NE10 honors, and Camryn DeBose was named to the Northeast-10 All-Academic Team.
In her first season in 2018-19, she helped lead the Chargers to an 18-12 record, an improvement of six wins over the season prior to her arrival, helping the Chargers advanced to the Northeast-10 Conference semifinals.
A graduate of Old Dominion University in 2014 with a degree in communications, Brandao was a three-year member of the Monarchs women’s basketball team and also represented Portugal at the European Championships. Following her collegiate career at ODU, Brandao embarked on a three-year professional basketball career in her native Portugal.
Brandao has also gained experience serving as a head coach at Chelsea Piers Connecticut, directing skill development sessions and planning daily basketball activities.
Brandao earned her master’s degree in sport management with a concentration in business analytics at New Haven.
