Jul 26, 2016
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Gaetano spent six years on the Drew sideline before taking the head coaching position at Colby College. |
WATERVILLE, Maine -- Brittany Gaetano, head coach at Drew University since 2010 and a former assistant at Amherst College, is the new head coach of the Colby College women's basketball program.
A four-year starter during her playing days at St. Lawrence University, Gaetano starts at Colby on August 1.
"We are thrilled to have Brittany joining us to lead our women's basketball program. We were all very impressed with her as a person and as a coach," said Tim Wheaton, Colby's Harold Alfond Director of Athletics. "Her personality and character coupled with her experience as a top NESCAC assistant and as a Division III head coach have her well prepared to lead the program forward."
Colby finished 15-11 last year and made the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinals. The Mules return 11 players, but lost three starters to graduation.
"I knew Colby was a special place as soon as I got on campus," Gaetano said. "There is a great sense of community, and I felt an energy and excitement from everyone that was really contagious."
Gaetano played her first year at St. Lawrence under current Amherst women's basketball coach G.P. Gromacki. She helped the Saints go 78-27 in her four years, was a three-time Liberty League All-Conference Team selection, and a three-time conference all-academic team honoree.
A 2007 graduate of St. Lawrence, Gaetano's first job was with Gromacki in his first year at Amherst. The Purple & White went 88-8 in Gaetano's three years, had three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, went to the NCAA Final Four twice, and won two NESCAC titles.
"I am incredibly grateful for all the past basketball experiences I have been afforded," said Gaetano, who earned her master's degree at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. "I'm extremely excited to be back in the NESCAC and coach the highly driven student-athletes that Colby attracts."
"We are thrilled to have Brittany joining us to lead our women's basketball program. We were all very impressed with her as a person and as a coach," said Tim Wheaton, Colby's Harold Alfond Director of Athletics. "Her personality and character coupled with her experience as a top NESCAC assistant and as a Division III head coach have her well prepared to lead the program forward."
Colby finished 15-11 last year and made the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) semifinals. The Mules return 11 players, but lost three starters to graduation.
"I knew Colby was a special place as soon as I got on campus," Gaetano said. "There is a great sense of community, and I felt an energy and excitement from everyone that was really contagious."
Gaetano played her first year at St. Lawrence under current Amherst women's basketball coach G.P. Gromacki. She helped the Saints go 78-27 in her four years, was a three-time Liberty League All-Conference Team selection, and a three-time conference all-academic team honoree.
A 2007 graduate of St. Lawrence, Gaetano's first job was with Gromacki in his first year at Amherst. The Purple & White went 88-8 in Gaetano's three years, had three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, went to the NCAA Final Four twice, and won two NESCAC titles.
"I am incredibly grateful for all the past basketball experiences I have been afforded," said Gaetano, who earned her master's degree at University of Massachusetts at Amherst. "I'm extremely excited to be back in the NESCAC and coach the highly driven student-athletes that Colby attracts."
Drew gave Gaetano her first opportunity as a head coach, and she helped the 2013-14 team earn the most conference wins since the school moved to the Landmark Conference. She went 61-90 in six seasons with the Rangers, who will now conduct a search to fill their coaching vacancy.
At Drew she was active on and off the court, representing Drew at the NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Forum in April 2016. Gaetano also earned the Drew Civic Engagement Staff Leadership Award (2013), The Arc of New Jersey Distinguished Community Service Award (2012), and the Arc/Morris Best Friend Award (2012).
Arc/Morris is an organization dedicated to the care, support, and advancement of people with intellectual and related developmental disabilities and their families. Gaetano was the founder and lead instructor for Leadership in Physical Fitness with Arc/Morris. She also was the lead advisor for Drew Unified Sports, which organized weekly practices and competitions in which Drew students and Special Olympic athletes compete together on the same playing field.
"I took a similar class as a student at St. Lawrence and decided to implement it with my team at Drew. The positive effect it had on all of us was profound," Gaetano said. "It's one of the things I will miss most, and I am hopeful to start something like this at Colby."
Gaetano replaces Jullie Veilleux who 65-60 in five seasons with the White Mules. The Bangor (Maine) Daily News reported in May that Veilleux was leaving coaching for a job in the private sector.