Melissa (D'Amico) Graves was named the ninth head coach of the Boston University women's basketball team on April 23, 2021. She recently concluded her fourth year with the Terriers in 2024-25.
During Graves' tenure in Terrier Town, BU has won over 57 percent of its games with a 73-54 record. In the Patriot League, the Terriers are 44-28. During that run, Graves helped lead BU to its first-ever Patriot League regular season championship in 2023. The Terriers have had 14 All-Patriot League selections on the First, Second and Third Teams under her watch, including the program's first-ever First Team picks in Sydney Johnson, Caitlin Weimar, and Alex Giannaros.
In 2024-25, BU went 12-19 under Graves' tutelage. BU finished non-conference play over .500 for the second straight year, marking the first time that occurred since 2011-13. The Terriers also won a Patriot League Tournament contest for the sixth consecutive year with a 75-51 victory over Loyola Maryland in the first round, the largest margin of victory in the postseason since the Terriers joined the conference. Senior Alex Giannaros, who was the first four-year letterwinner during Graves' time on Commonwealth Ave., capped her career with an All-Patriot League Second Team selection as she finished top-six in program history in points, three-pointers and three-point percentage. Freshman Allison Schwertner also earned a Patriot League All-Rookie Team honor, the second under Graves' watch.
Graves' third season in 2023-24 saw BU capture 20 wins for the second-straight year, marking the first time that's occurred since 2011-13. The Terriers tied for the second in the Patriot League with 10 conference victories, and advanced to the Patriot League championship game for the second-consecutive campaign and third time in their last four seasons. BU led the league in blocks per game, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage. The Terriers also set a single-season program record with 158 blocks.
That year, Graves oversaw the development of Caitlin Weimar, who became the program's first-ever Patriot League Player of the Year and ECAC Division I Player of the Year. She also became the first Terrier to receive Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors in consecutive years. Weimar ranked top-20 in Division I in blocks, blocks per game, double-doubles, free throw attempts, rebounds per game, and defensive rebounds per game, and was the only student-athlete to average more than 18.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per contest. She received First Team All-Patriot League honors as did Alex Giannaros, who set a career-high with 14.2 points per game while ranking 16th in the country with a .424 three-point percentage.
In the 2022-23 campaign, Graves helped guide the Terriers to one of its most successful seasons in program history. BU recorded 24 wins for the third time in program history, one shy of tying the single-season record. The Terriers set a program record with 17 wins in Patriot League play, becoming the third Patriot League program ever to finish 17-1 in the conference slate. At one point, BU won 17 games in a row, the second-longest winning streak in program history and the fifth-longest active streak in Division I at its peak. Graves led the Terriers to their second Patriot League Tournament championship appearance in three years, hosting the title game in front of 1,305 fans at Case Gym, the most for a single BU women's basketball game in the Patriot League era (2013-14 onwards). The Terriers went on to earn their fifth-ever bid to the WNIT, and first since 2012.
For her efforts, Graves was named the 2022-23 Patriot League Coach of the Year, becoming the second Terrier to earn the league's top coaching honor. She helped coach All-ECAC First Team selection Caitlin Weimar, who became the program's first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Overall, five Terrier student-athletes garnered All-Patriot League awards: Weimar (First Team, All-Defensive Team), Sydney Johnson (First Team, All-Defensive Team), Alex Giannaros (Third Team), Maren Durant (All-Defensive Team), and Maggie Pina (Academic All-Patriot League). Giannaros led the nation with a .515 three-point percentage, as BU set a program record with a 38.1 percent clip from beyond the arc that ranked fifth in Division I.
Graves achieved immediate success in her first year on Commonwealth Avenue in 2021-22, guiding BU to a third-place finish in the Patriot League with a 12-6 league record, and going 17-14 overall to reach the Patriot League semifinal round. BU's 12 PL wins tied for the highest amount since the Terriers joined the league ahead of the 2013-14 campaign. BU also notched its first win over an ACC opponent in five seasons when it took down Boston College 69-65 at Case Gym on Nov. 17, 2021. Overall, BU led the Patriot League in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and blocks per game. In league action, the Terriers also led their counterparts in scoring average, rebounds per game, and rebounding margin.
During Graves' first year, BU paced the Patriot League with four different All-League selections. Junior Sydney Johnson became the third Terrier in program history to capture All-Patriot League First Team honors, while classmate Maren Durant was named to the Third Team, All-Defensive Team, and Academic All-League Team. Sophomore Caitlin Weimar and freshman Alex Giannaros earned Third Team and All-Rookie recognition, respectively.
Graves arrived in Boston after serving as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Wake Forest for the previous three seasons. This past year, Graves was key in guiding the Demon Deacons to their second NCAA Tournament appearance, and first since the 1987-88 campaign. Prior to Wake Forest, she spent a combined five years as an assistant at Yale and Colgate.
"Melissa emerged as a perfect candidate to continue the great momentum that our women's basketball program has built in recent years," said Director of Athletics Drew Marrochello at the time of her hiring. "Her experience in the ACC, Patriot League and Ivy League put her in a great position to be our head coach. As we learned more about her, we quickly realized that she would be a great fit as she is devoted to providing a holistic student-athlete experience and has the passion to see each young woman succeed on and off the court. We are thrilled to welcome her to the BU family."
Specializing in working with post players, Graves aided Ivana Raca to be named to the All-ACC First Team, becoming just the fourth student-athlete in Wake Forest history to earn All-ACC First Team honors. Raca was selected in last week's WNBA Draft.
Wake Forest boasted one of the toughest interiors in the ACC with Graves, as it ranked second in the nation in rebounding margin (+14.5) while also being ranked in the top-20 in both total rebounds per game (44.5) and defensive rebounds per game (30.4) entering ACC competition during the 2019-20 season. On the recruiting front, Graves coordinated and delegated all facts of recruiting and was integral in signing four student-athletes ranked within the top-50 nationally.
"I'm so honored and humbled to have the opportunity to coach at a world-class institution like Boston University," said Graves. "I'm thrilled to be a part of the Terrier family and join such a diverse and energetic community.
"The support and guidance I've felt throughout this process has been unmatched and every person I have met over the last few weeks has made me fall even deeper in love with BU and what it represents," she added. "I cannot wait to get started with this amazing group of young women and continue to build on their successes on and off the court."
Prior to her time in Winston-Salem, Graves filled the same role at Yale for three years. During the 2017-18 season, she assisted the Bulldogs to their best win total in program history (19) and capture the WBI Championship. Honing in on top student-athletes, Graves recruited the Texas Large Private School Player of the Year as well as the 2018 Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year to New Haven.
Graves entered the coaching ranks at fellow Patriot League institution Colgate in 2013 following a five-year international professional playing career. She helped the Raiders to their highest win total in a decade during the 2014-15 term and host their first Patriot League Tournament game in 11 seasons.
Valuing high-caliber athletics and academics, the Manorville, N.Y. native enjoyed a four-year career at Notre Dame playing under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Muffet McGraw. Starting in 58 of 119 games, the Fighting Irish went 90-39, ranked as high a fourth in the nation, and made an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Graves graduated from Notre Dame in 2008 with a degree in business.
Recognized by the WBCA as one of the top assistant coaches in the country, Graves has been named to the NEXTUP coaches program as well as the Thirty Under 30 list.
Off the court, Graves is passionate about service and is the founder and president of PlayBOLD, a non-profit dedicated to empowering communities by mobilizing people and resources on international missions to the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
What They Said About Coach Graves Upon Her Hire
"I'm thrilled for Melissa and the opportunity to be a head coach because she has worked so hard and paid her dues. She's been at different levels, different places, learned from different coaches, and she is so ready to take on the challenge of being a head coach. In terms of X's and O's, she's got a high basketball IQ and is constantly willing to learn and get better. I think she's a terrific role model for her players and really values the relationships she's built throughout her career."
Muffet McGraw
Former Notre Dame Women's Basketball Head Coach, 2x National Champion
"I couldn't be happier for Melissa. I appreciate all she did to help the Wake Forest program over the past three seasons. This is an opportunity she has worked incredibly hard to earn and she is a rising star in the coaching profession. Boston University has hired a fantastic person and exceptional basketball coach. I know she will be a great leader for their program, university and community while also molding their student-athletes into not only great basketball players, but incredible young women."
Jen Hoover
Former Wake Forest Women's Basketball Head Coach
"Boston University has landed a rising star in Melissa. She is a tremendous teacher, a tireless recruiter, and most importantly a phenomenal human being. Melissa will lead her young women with integrity and authenticity. BU will continue its tradition of excellence because Melissa exemplifies just that; excellence as a professional, but more importantly as a humanitarian. I am a proud mentor, colleague and friend today."
Allison Guth
Former Yale Women's Basketball Head Coach
