WASHINGTON – The Gallaudet athletics department
announced today that Stephanie Stevens is the new head
coach for the women's basketball program as announced by athletic
director Michael Weinstock. Stevens begins her new duties as
women's basketball coach immediately.
Stevens returns to Kendall Green after spending one year as the coordinator of recruiting operations for the nationally ranked University of Maryland women's basketball program. She served as assistant coach under former Gallaudet women's basketball head coach Kevin Cook during the 2010-11 season when the Bison posted a 24-4 record, were ranked for over a month and made the Division III NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999.
"Stephanie will bring great energy, enthusiasm and basketball knowledge to our program. I was impressed with her work ethic when she worked here as an assistant coach here two years ago," said Weinstock. "Maryland head coach Brenda Frese spoke very highly of Stephanie and is confident that she has all of the qualities needed to be a successful coach."
Last season, the Maryland Terrapins won the 2012 ACC championship and advanced to the Division I NCAA Tournament regional final (Elite 8) before losing to Notre Dame. Maryland finished with a 31-5 record and was ranked fifth in the nation.
"I am extremely excited to be back at Gallaudet University! There are wonderful people here with whom I am excited to work with again," said Stevens. "This year will be another profound year for our student-athletes. We will strive for success in the classroom and on the basketball court."
Stevens, 25, inherits a GU women's basketball team that went 8-16 last season and 6-12 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference under the tutelage of Brendan Stern, who has moved over to lead the Gallaudet men's basketball program. This is Stevens' first collegiate head coaching position.
Stevens is a native of Pickerington, Ohio, and attended Pickerington Central for high school where she played basketball and was named Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Division I Player of the Year and selected to the all-state first team during her senior season (2006). She was rated the 33rd best point guard in her class in the nation.
Stevens attended Cincinnati where she lettered four years in women's basketball for the Bearcats. She was a four-time Big East All-Academic Team selection and was named to the University of Cincinnati Dean's List every semester for four years. She was also a member of Cincinnati's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for four years. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education with a focus on Sign Language Interpreting and Deaf Studies. During the spring of 2010, Stevens interned as an interpreter with a local Family Service Association in Cincinnati to help with community services for the deaf. She is a current member of Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
Stevens currently resides in Silver Spring, Md. She is the oldest of four children; she has a younger brother Mark, and two sisters Kristen and Katie. Her parents are Rob and Jacki Stevens.