McCombs joins the Panthers after a six-year stint with the Crusaders of Valparaiso University in the Mid-Continent Conference. She was promoted to associate head coach prior to the 2004-05 season after five years as an assistant coach. From 2001-05, McCombs also served as the Crusaders’ recruiting coordinator. During her time at Valparaiso, the Crusaders won two Mid-Continent titles and made three trips to the postseason, including two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. In addition, Valparaiso earned a spot among the WBCA Academic Top 25 teams from 1999-2004.

"Caroline brings tremendous versatility to our staff with experience as an associate head coach and as a recruiting coordinator," Berenato said. "Her recruiting background in Ohio, Indiana and the Chicago areas are important because we have new schools from those places joining the Big East this year. She played in the NCAA Tournament and has coached in it and I think it’s important to surround yourself with that level of experience."

"I’m very excited and fortunate to join the Pitt women’s basketball staff," McCombs said. "Coach Berenato and her staff are great people and I’m eager to get started. We share the same vision for Pitt women’s basketball to win a national championship."

McCombs graduated from Youngstown State in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in applied science and earned her master’s at Valparaiso in 2001. While at YSU, she helped the Penguins to four straight Mid-Continent Conference regular season titles, two Mid-Continent Tournament championships, two NCAA Tournament appearances and the school’s first NCAA Tournament win against Memphis.

A two-time all-conference selection at guard, McCombs finished her career among the school’s all-time leaders in points (1,577), three-point field goals (146), assists (493) and steals (236). After graduation, McCombs played in the Czech Basketball Federation and European Cup competitions in the fall of 1998.

McCombs also has head coaching experience overseas, heading up the efforts for the Athletes in Action team in the summer of 2004. She guided the team to a 7-3 record in Europe while helping the players get accustomed to the international level of play. She replaces Marynell Meadors on the Panthers’ staff, who joined the WNBA’s Washington Mystics as an assistant coach.