Chrissy (Esbensen) Rhine, a 2013 graduate of Immaculata University, completed her seventh season as head coach of the Mighty Macs women's basketball team with the 2021-22 season. Rhine has collected 65 victories, 42 of them in conference play.
In the 2021-22 season, Rhine guided the Mighty Macs to their first Atlantic East Conference Championship and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Macs finished the season with an overall record of 18-9 and a record of 8-4 in Atlantic East play, which gave Immaculata the second seed in the Atlantic East Tournament. In the quarterfinals, the Macs defeated Centenary 62-43 and defeated Cabrini in the semifinals 66-56. In the championship game, the Macs defeated Gwynedd Mercy 70-57 in front of a capacity crowd at Alumnae Hall to capture their first Atlantic East Conference title and the conference's bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Macs traveled to Angola, Indiana for the NCAA Tournament falling to Trine University in the first round 67-32. Rhine's players Theresa Kearney and Erin Kelly were honored by the Atlantic East Conference following the season. Kearney was the Atlantic East Tournament MVP and a first-team all-Atlantic East selection. Erin Kelly won the Atlantic East women's basketball Elite 20 Award. The award is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA competing at the site of the final at each of the Atlantic East Championships.
In Coach Esbensen’s sixth season at the helm, the Mighty Macs women’s basketball team went 0-2 following two losses to Gwynedd Mercy on March 4th and 5th of 2021. The 2020-21 winter season was shortened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the 2019-20 campaign, Rhine’s charges continued to take impressive steps forward concluding the season with an overall record of 12-14 and a mark of 6-6 in Atlantic East play, which gave the Macs the fourth seed in the Atlantic East Tournament. Immaculata concluded its regular season with a thrilling 61-58 over Cabrini inside Nerney Field House for the Macs first road victory over the Cavaliers since the 2012 season. Immaculata also enjoyed an impressive five-game winning streak, which spanned between the conclusion of non-league play and the beginning of Conference play as the Macs got off to a 3-0 start in Atlantic East play, which was the squad's best start to league play since the 2014-15 season. In the Atlantic East Quarterfinals, the Macs squared off against the Marywood Pacers battling throughout before eventually falling in double overtime by a final of 79-77. Throughout the 2019-20 season, Rhine mentored the program's first Rookie of the Year since she accomplished the feat in Jordan Rook while also mentoring a pair of All-Conference selections in Theresa Kearney and Brielle Rigo. Kearney also joined the 1,000-point club in the 2019-20 season becoming the 24th member of the storied group and the first player to score all 1,000 points under the tutelage of Rhine and the first player to score all 1,000 points at Immaculata since current Assistant Coach Sara Smith.
In 2018-19, Esbensen guided the Mighty Macs through their first season in the Atlantic East Conference. The Macs went 8-19 with a 4-8 mark in conference play and landed the first playoff victory of her career in a 66-56 quarterfinal victory over Neumann. She also mentored Theresa Kearney to a place on First Team All-Atlantic East.
In her third campaign, Esbensen led a youthful squad to a 7-18 overall mark, 6-10 in the league. She mentored freshman Theresa Kearney to a Second Team All-CSAC selection.
In her second season in 2016-17, Esbensen guided the Mighty Macs back to the CSAC postseason as the number six seed with an 8-8 CSAC record and an 8-18 record overall. She helped Tamyra Laws earn Second Team All-CSAC.
During Esbensen's first campaign, the team posted a conference record of 8-8 while finishing 8-17 overall. The Mighty Macs also captured the CSAC 3-D Award for sportsmanship for the third-straight season. Esbensen also mentored First Team All-CSAC seletion Reilly Larkin.
Esbensen was promoted to the head coaching position during the summer of 2015 following a two-year stint as Patty Canterino's assistant coach. Esbensen has been instrumental in the success of the Mighty Macs program over six seasons as both a player and coach, helping Immaculata to reach the postseason five times, including three Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) runner-up finishes.
The Royersford, Pa., native played all four years at Immaculata under Canterino, earning All-CSAC second-team honors on three different occasions. During her first season in 2009-2010, Esbensen was named the CSAC Rookie of the Year.
Esbensen, who was a four-year starter for the Mighty Macs starting 104 of 105 games during her career, helped Immaculata reach the CSAC Championship Game in 2011, and the conference semifinals in both 2010 and 2012.
She currently ranks third all-time in scoring with 1,276 points and stands fifth in assists with 442. She also posted 356 rebounds, 261 steals, and 14 blocks during her career. She was named to the 2009 Bryn Mawr Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, 2010 Swarthmore Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, 2011 Bahamas Sunshine Shootout All-Tournament Team, and 2012 Jim Crawley All-Tournament Team.
In her four years as a Mighty Mac player, Esbensen was a model student-athlete. In addition to her success on the court, she was a three-time CSAC Winter/Spring All-Academic Team selection as she earned a bachelor's degree in Communications.
Esbensen currently works as the Director of Admissions at Immaculata.
