TROY, N.Y.- The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) athletics department has announced the hiring of Claire Kruszka as assistant coach of the women's basketball program.

"I am delighted to welcome Claire to RPI," said RPI Head Coach John Greene. "Claire was an outstanding student-athlete and leader, both on her team and around campus, while at St. John Fisher." 

"Her education, experiences, and values are rooted in the educational and personal development of others with an emphasis on helping to develop caring, inclusive, and challenging leaders," continued Coach Greene. "She will be a true educator-coach and we are fortunate that she is joining our campus community, athletics, and the women's basketball family."

Kruszka joins the RPI bench after capping a decorated four-year playing career at St. John Fisher this past winter.

A member of the Cardinal's 1,000 point-scorer club, Kruszka was honored as the Empire 8 Rookie of the Year in 2020-21 and the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23, and received Empire 8 All-Conference accolades in all of her four seasons at Fisher.

Coack Kruszka can be contacted at kruszc@rpi.edu.