Charel Allen 2025-26 Women's Basketball Staff

THE ALLEN FILE

Hometown: Monessen, PA
High School: Monessen
College: Notre Dame (Sociology & Computer Applications, 2008)

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

2004-08 Notre Dame
2008 Sacramento Monarchs
2008-09 Ceyhan Belediye
2009-12 Dunav 8806
2012-13 Elitzur Netanya
2012-14 BC Levski
2014-15 Neftokhimik Burgas
2015-17 Montana 2003

COACHING CAREER

2022-Present Notre Dame Assistant Coach
2021-22 Cal State Fullerton Associate Head Coach
2017-21 Cal State Fullerton Assistant Coach

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Allen was a two-time All-American, two-time First Team All-Big East selection and served as team captain over her final two seasons at Notre Dame. She averaged team bests 17.0 points and 6.2 rebounds as a junior then led the Irish to a Sweet 16 berth during her senior year, scoring a career-high 35 points in a second-round overtime win over Oklahoma – which still stands as the second-best Irish scoring performance in the NCAA Tournament.
• She was the first player in school history to amass 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 200 assists and 200 steals in her career. She still ranks 17th on the all-time scoring list with 1,566 career points.
• Allen played professionally in Bulgaria for eight years beginning in 2009. She was a five-time Bulgarian League champion, four-time All-Bulgarian League First Team selection and 2014 Player of the Year
• Allen was selected in the third round of the 2008 WNBA Draft by the then Sacramento Monarchs, helping the team advance to the 2008 WNBA Playoffs

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Last season, her third back with Notre Dame, Allen’s pupil Hannah Hidalgo reached new heights. The sophomore was an AP First-Team All-American, ACC Player of the Year, ACC Defensive Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year finalist and Wooden Award finalist, among numerous additional awards. She scored 23.7 points per game, breaking her own Notre Dame record (22.6) set as a freshman
• In 2023-24, Allen entered her second season under Ivey. It was one to remember, as the former Irish guard was the position coach for freshman phenom Hannah Hidalgo and helped lead the Irish to the ACC Tournament title for the first time since 2019. Hidalgo shattered nearly every record on the books, including but not limited to ACC freshman scoring (790), ACC freshman steals (160), Notre Dame single-season steals (160), Notre Dame single-season points per game (22.6) and Notre Dame freshman single-game scoring (35). Hidalgo was named the ACC Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming just the third player in conference history to win both awards in the same season.
• During her inaugural year back on campus, the former Irish guard helped lead Notre Dame to a regular season ACC title using elite guard play. Allen helped coach All-American Olivia Miles and All-ACC shooter Sonia Citron, leading Notre Dame to a second straight Sweet 16 berth.
• At Fullerton, Allen helped with recruiting along with coaching the wings for the Titans. In her first year, Allen saw her shooting guard Hannah Thompson average 12.4 points per game and convert 72 three-pointers – fifth most for a single season. A year later, freshman Amiee Book went on to win the Big West Sixth Player of the Year award and now ranks third in program history for three-point shooting percentage. 

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