VILLANOVA, PA. – Villanova University Athletics will honor legendary former head women's basketball coach Harry Perretta at halftime of Saturday's game against Georgetown. Perretta will be enshrined in the Finneran Pavilion with a plaque recognizing his career accomplishments. This honor, on par with having a jersey retired for an athlete, will be a permanent display in the entrance to the home of Villanova Basketball.

Perretta coached the Wildcats for 42 years from 1978-2020 and tallied a career record of 783-489. The 783 wins rank him as the winningest coach in the history of Villanova basketball for both men and women and ranks him 15^th on the Division I all-time collegiate coaching list.

During his career on the Main Line, Perretta led the Wildcats to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 WNIT berths, national rankings in the Associated Press poll, BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships in both 1985-86 and 1986-87, the 2003 BIG EAST Tournament title, 12 outright and five shared Big 5 titles, 20 seasons with at least 20 wins and a trip to the 1982 AIAW Final Four.

In addition, he mentored 79 All-BIG EAST performers, including 19 first team honorees and four BIG EAST Players of the Year. One of his players, Shelly Pennefather, was recognized in 1987 as the nation's top women's basketball player, winning the Margaret Wade Trophy and earning Kodak All-America honors.