PITTSBURGH — Olivia Bresnahan is staying put — and couldn't be happier.

The 2010 Butler graduate and basketball standout transferred from Florida State to Duquesne University last December. The move was largely for the opportunity to play for coach Suzie McConnell Serio, who heavily recruited Bresnahan out of high school.

But after last season, McConnell Serio accepted the women's basketball reins at Pitt, leaving Bresnahan's immediate basketball future up in the air.

Not anymore.

“Honestly, it couldn't have worked out better,” Bresnahan said. “These new coaches have really created a family atmosphere here.

“I'm excited about it. I'm into it. All I want to do now is help this team win.”

Dan Burt, an assistant under McConnell Serio, was named as her replacement. His assistants include former La Roche coach Eddie Benton, former Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) coachMatt Schmidt and Rachel Wojdowski, a former professional basketball player overseas who caught eight touchdown passes for the Pittsburgh Passion two years ago.

Benton coached Casie Cygan, a 1,000-point scorer and high school teammate of Bresnahan's, at La Roche.

“They are all awesome people who are easy to work with,” Bresnahan said of the coaches. “I have been learning from all of them.”

Bresnahan, a 5-foot-11 guard, has been taking part in the team's weight-lifting program at 6:30 a.m. five days a week this summer. The Dukes go through practice drills with the coaches twice a week.

Duquesne posted five consecutive 20-win seasons under McConnell Serio — including 24-9 last year — and she was 123-68 in six years with the Dukes.

“There's no reason to believe that success won't continue with Coach Dan,” Bresnahan said. “He's got fresh ideas and the team believes in him.”

Bresnahan finished up her fall semester at Florida State in mid-December of last year. While she has been practicing with the Dukes since January, she is not eligible to play in a game until Dec. 22 against West Virginia.

“It's a unique situation with her,” Burt said of Bresnahan. “If we're 14-0 at that point, there'd be no reason to start her. If we're struggling, maybe she gives us a boost.

“Either way, Olivia is going to get on the floor for us. She's too good of a player not to. She's outstanding in the open court.”

Bresnahan has not played in a collegiate game since the end of the 2011-12 campaign with Florida State.

“It feels like forever,” Bresnahan admitted. “I'm so anxious to get out there and compete. By far, this is the longest I've gone without playing in an actual, real game.”

When she does come back, Bresnahan will be competing for playing time. Eight of the 14 players on Duquesne's roster play guard, including returning point guard April Robinson, who averaged 8.3 points and 2.4 assists per game as a freshman starter last year, making the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team.

The Dukes' leading scorer and rebounder — forward Wumi Agunbiade — is one of three returning starters.

“April is a good scorer for us, too, so we like having another point guard on the floor with her,” Burt said. “Olivia will open up some options for us that way.

“She can play the 1 or the 2 position. And like a lot of our other guards, she's been working on her shot. Olivia challenged herself that way long before we did and her outside jumper has really improved.”

Bresnahan is prepared to earn whatever she gets over the next two years.

“Nothing is guaranteed,” she said. “My goal is to contribute and to win.”

Bresnahan scored 1,395 points for Butler. She played in 60 games in two years at Florida State, starting four. She averaged 21.9 minutes per game her sophomore year, registering career highs of 10 points against UNC-Charlotte, six assists against Akron and eight rebounds vs. Clemson.

“I wish I had her for four years instead of two,” Burt said. “But I know what we're getting — a very driven and talented athlete.”