Dec 5, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 5 min read

Madison Cable returned to Pittsburgh a winner again. Only this time, the Mt. Lebanon High School graduate scored nary a point when Wisconsin edged Pitt, 58-57, in the Big 10/ACC Challenge.

In fact, Cable rode the bench on Nov. 29 at the Petersen Center. That’s because after a stellar college basketball career at Notre Dame, she is now a graduate assistant coach for the Badgers.

Cable said being a GA never crossed her mind but the opportunity arose when she decided not to pursue a career in the WNBA and Jonathan Tsipis surfaced at Wisconsin. The Badgers’ head coach recruited Cable out of high school to play for the Fighting Irish.

“It was a hard decision,” Cable said of not turning pro. “The WNBA was not the path I really wanted to take but when the opportunity with Wisconsin arose, I thought it would be cool to still be involved with the game. Since I was just out of college, it was a great way to stay connected with the players. It’s still hard adjusting to not playing anymore,” Cable admitted.

For the better part of her life, the 24-year-old has not just played basketball. She has excelled.

At Mt. Lebanon, she was a Parade All-American, the Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year and the AP Pennsylvania Quad-A Player of the Year in 2011. She guided the Blue Devils to three state championships, four PIAA finals and a combined 114-14 record. She scored 1,571 career points, averaging 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game.

At Notre Dame, she became one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in NCAA history. She ranks 10th in the record books with a career-high 3-point field goal percentage of .456. She played in 145 career games with the Fighting Irish, scored more than 1,000 points and earned All-American, honorable mention recognition.

Cable helped lead Notre Dame to four consecutive NCAA Finals Fours, including three national runner-up showings. The Fighting Irish also won four regular-season ACC titles and one conference tournament championship during her tenure.

“There have been so many fond memories,” Cable said of her career. “I have played with competitive people and I have loved every minute of it.”

In a different way, she is enjoying her duties as a GA. Cable says she gets to “do a little of everything” and helps out wherever she is needed, whether that’s in the office, at practice, during a game or traveling with the team. “I’m all over the place,” she said with a laugh.

Cable is learning the ropes. She is also gaining a better awareness and renewed appreciation for what her coaches have done for her and their programs.

“As a player, you don’t always realize how much goes into preparation for an opponent,” Cable said. “How it all gets down and what it takes to get there,” she added.

Cable also acknowledged that Lebo skipper Dori Oldaker and Notre Dame’s Muffett McGraw have been the biggest influences in her life next to her parents, Dale and Sue Cable.

“Basketball has been a huge part of my life and they have actually been there for nine years of it. I’d see them every day. I loved playing for them and I’m thankful for having them in my life,” she said. “They are not just excellent coaches but they are also great people and amazing teachers. They have done a tremendous job of preparing me for other things besides basketball.”

As a graduate assistant, Cable is actually preparing for the next stage in her life. She is in the process of earning her master’s degree in educational leadership and policy analysis. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Notre Dame.

“I’d like to stay involved in sports but I’m not sure I will go the route of a college coach. It’s great because I’m still around basketball but I’m not sure I want to do that. I’m learning a lot. There are a lot of takeaways that will benefit me wherever I go.”

Cable will go where her heart leads and part of it is in Chicago. Her boyfriend, Vince Hinostroza, is currently playing hockey in the Blackhawks’ organization. Hinostraza played at Notre Dame and the pair have dated for four years.

“First and foremost,” Cable noted, “the GA was a good opportunity for me but Madison is near to Chicago and a few hours away from Notre Dame. So it’s not a bad location and it’s a cool city. Of course, I’d love to see (Vince) get traded to Pittsburgh,” Cable enthused.

Cable has more than just family at home. She owns two dogs, Donnie and Tucker. The family owns another pair of canines, both goldens, Sidney and Winnie.

“So I enjoy every opportunity I get to be back in Pittsburgh. It’s exciting. I love it here And it was exciting to compete in the ACC Challenge against a good team that has a great coach and good athletes.”

Still, it would have been more fun to play, Cable admitted.

“If I had the choice though,” she said, “I’d pick playing over coaching any day.”