Head Coach: Stephanie Gaitley (718) 488-1531, stephanie.gaitley@liu.edu
Assistants: Jennifer Greenwell, Robyne Bostick,
Gina Tophoney, Ruairi Sullivan

ABOUT COACH GAITLEY
Stephanie Gaitley’s resume the last 16 seasons as a women’s basketball head coach has been based on hard work, tenacious defense and the ability of everyone surrounding her to work as one. Season number 17 looks to be just as promising as one of the nation’s most respected coaches debuts for LIU.

Gaitley’s name has become one of the more recognized in college basketball with a 312-151 career record, seven NCAA Tournament berths, four conference championships and two WNIT appearances. Gaitley sported a 196-88 mark in 10 seasons at St. Joseph’s University (1991-2001) and went 116-63 in six seasons at the University of Richmond (1985-91).

To figure out why Gaitley is a sensational coach and leader is something that is evident without looking at her victories and postseason accomplishments. Her cordial and likeable personality is contagious, plus her efficiency and the foundation she already has set forth with the program makes the 42-year-old a perfect fit for LIU.

Being a part of a big family is nothing new for Gaitley with five sisters and two brothers growing up in an athletic atmosphere. That environment is what helped lay the groundwork for the success she has enjoyed to this point.

“I think by growing up in a big family, you learn to be competitive between your brothers and sisters,” Gaitley said. “Having a mom and dad who played sports and were very involved made a big impact on my life.”

Gaitley was taught early that losing was not an option. She competed for an Ocean City HS team that went 100-0 in league play from 1974-78 and learned under quality collegiate coaches like Jim Foster at St. Joseph’s and Harry Perretta at Villanova.

“I learned how to win early and how to hate losing,” Gaitley added. “When you win a lot, losing hurts more. I feel I’ve taken a little bit of everybody who has touched my life and developed that into my own philosophy and where I am today.”

The Ocean City, NJ native took over the ranks at St. Joseph’s from Foster and added to the program’s success each year. Gaitley guided the Hawks to five 20-win seasons, Atlantic 10 Conference championships in 1997 and 1999, and at-large appearances to the NCAA Tournament in 1994, 1995 and 2000. St. Joseph’s advanced to the second round in each of its postseason appearances from 1997-2000.

Gaitley, who served as an assistant coach at the Philadelphia school from 1982-85, took her team on three European tours as head coach in Ireland, England, Belgium and Luxembourg. She also helped secure an annual sponsorship of the program by a major supermarket chain and established the “Kid’s Fun Club,” bringing in over 100 supporters for the Hawks.

The success Gaitley had with St. Joseph’s carried from her experience at Richmond, where she led the Spiders to a WNIT berth in 1989 and Colonial Athletic Association championships in 1990 and 1991. Gaitley took over a mediocre squad and turned it into one of Virginia’s finest, notching 20-win campaigns in each of her last four seasons with a combined 96-27 record. Gaitley was named CAA Coach of the Year in 1990 following a 25-5 mark and went 26-5 the next season.

If defense wins championships, look no further than Gaitley’s teams as they were ranked among the nation’s top ten in scoring defense nine times from 1989-2000. St. Joseph’s allowed just 53.1 points per game in 1998-99 and led the nation in 1993-94 by yielding 53.9 ppg.

Gaitley also has had success on the international level. She served as assistant coach for the United States in 2000 at the Jones Cup, helping lead it to a gold medal, and was coach for the West team at the 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival, winning a silver medal.

Academic achievement also has followed Gaitley wherever she has gone with a 100 percent graduation rate as coach. She has coached seven Atlantic 10 academic honorees, four CAA academic winners, two Atlantic 10 Student-Athletes of the Year, two all-district academic honorees and one academic All-American.

The knowledge Gaitley has acquired has been passed down through the SVG Camps, which she has been running the past 17 years. She also has given clinics in Turkey, Bosnia, Ireland and England.

Gaitley’s athletic accolades go way beyond coaching. A standout player at Ocean City HS, she helped lead the team to three straight South Jersey Group III finals in addition to the squad’s unblemished Cape-Atlantic League mark over four years.

From there, she and her sister Courtney were off to Villanova, where they enjoyed three outstanding campaigns from 1979-82. They helped lead Villanova to the Philadelphia “Big Five” title each season.

Gaitley averaged 11.0 ppg during the 1981-82 season and helped guide Villanova to the semifinals of the last AIAW Tournament.

Earlier that season, Stephanie and Courtney played against Coco Vanderslice of Fairleigh Dickinson, marking the first time in NCAA history three sisters competed in the same contest.

Gaitley is no stranger to the Northeast Conference, serving as a color analyst for the league as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference a season ago. She took part in the NEC’s first televised women’s basketball doubleheaders, both involving LIU.

She graduated from Villanova in 1982 with a B.S. in Education and received her M.S. in Secondary Education there in 1983. Villanova inducted her into its Hall of Fame in 1993, three years after she was enshrined into the Philadelphia “Big Five” Hall of Fame. Gaitley served as chairperson of the Kodak All-America Committee from 1998-2001 and is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Gaitley and her husband Frank reside in Haverford, PA with their sons Dutch, 14, D.C., 9, and Jordan Cooper, 4.

ABOUT COACH GREENWELL (718) 488-6235
Jennifer Greenwell had tremendous success playing for Stephanie Gaitley at St. Joseph’s. So it is only appropriate the two would hook up again for Greenwell’s first year as an assistant coach.

Greenwell, the first assistant Gaitley hired at LIU, will assist in the day-to-day operation of the program.

“Jen is someone who brings great knowledge and passion to the game,” Gaitley said. “The one thing that made her stand out as a player was her leadership skills. She was a defensive specialist that brought a hunger to win and that will carry on.”

Greenwell served the last three years as a field service and customer service manager for AT&T Growth Business Services. She developed effective solutions to business problems, was responsible for new revenue growth and managed the implementation of complex orders.

Greenwell was part of an incredible run at St. Joseph’s from 1995-99 that saw the school post an 84-37 record and clinch two Atlantic 10 Conference titles, two NCAA Tournament berths and a WNIT appearance.

A defensive standout for a defensive-oriented program, Greenwell was captain and MVP for the Hawks as a senior. She was named the team’s “Unsung Hero” as a junior and “Most Improved Player” as a freshman.

Greenwell helped the 1996-97 team post a 26-5 mark as a sophomore and a 23-8 record as a senior in 1998-99. Those clubs notched two of the three highest wins totals in Gaitley’s 10 seasons at St. Joseph’s and both won the Atlantic 10 title.

A 1999 graduate of St. Joseph’s, Greenwell earned a B.S. in marketing. The Philadelphia native and fiance Mark Payes are scheduled to get married in September 2003.

ABOUT COACH BOSTICK (718) 488-4093
Reunited with head coach Stephanie Gaitley, Robyne Bostick enters her first season as an assistant coach with the Blackbirds.

“I’m just thrilled to have Robyne join our staff,” Gaitley said. “I think we’re very fortunate to get someone with her knowledge and experience of the game. She leads by example and I think she will be a great asset for our post players.”

Bostick was a standout player for St. Joseph’s, earning first team All-Atlantic 10 accolades as a senior in 1993-94 as well as being named Philadelphia Big Five Player of the Year. She paced the team with 15.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game and was a Kodak District II All-American.

With Bostick’s help, the Hawks went 19-9 in 1993-94 and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. St. Joseph’s went 21-8 in 1992-93 in Bostick’s junior season and Gaitley’s second with the team.

Bostick ended her collegiate career as one of the Hawks’ elite with 481 rebounds, 53 blocks and a .494 shooting percentage, leading to her induction into the Big Five Hall of Fame in 2000.

Her playing career did not stop with graduation as she competed professionally for two seasons with Resident Waldferdange in Luxembourg. She paced it to the Luxembourg Cup in 1995 and a berth in the European Championship.

Last season at Princeton, Bostick helped the Tigers improve to an 11-16 record after a 2-25 showing the campaign before. Her lone season at Vanderbilt in 1997-98 saw it clinch an NCAA Tournament berth and James Madison in 1996-97 advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals under her watch. Bostick also was an assistant at the Air Force Academy from 1998-2001.

Bostick graduated St. Joseph’s in 1993, the season before completing her playing career, with a degree in Psychology. She resides in Robbinsville, NJ.

ABOUT COACH TOPHONEY (718) 488-6023
Gina Tophoney enters her third season as an assistant coach and first at LIU

Tophoney is coming off a stint at her alma mater West Chester University, helping it to a 41-16 record from 2000-02. The Golden Rams went 23-6 in 2000-01 for its second-highest win total in school history and notched its second berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

“Gina comes from a very successful program and because she’s young, she brings us youth and excitement,” coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “It was her aggressive style and our philosophy that made me feel she would be great for our staff.”

Working with a coach who possesses a defensive mentality is nothing new to Tophoney. Under coach Deirdre Kane, West Chester allowed just 66.0 points per game in 2000-01 and 68.0 per contest a season ago.

Tophoney’s coaching career began after a successful run as a player with the Golden Rams. A two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference first team selection, she easily is first in school history with 212 blocks, second with 833 rebounds, third with 224 steals and 13th in scoring with 914 points.

West Chester went 22-7 overall and 10-2 in league play to capture the PSAC East crown in 1996-97. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.

Tophoney graduated West Chester in 2000 with a B.S. in Kinesiology and earned a Master’s there two years later in Athletic Administration.

Tophoney resides in Brooklyn.

ABOUT COACH SULLIVAN (718) 488-6039
Ruairi Sullivan, the all-time leading scorer at Chestnut Hill College, makes her coaching debut this season as a graduate assistant.

“Ruairi is quiet, but she will have an impact for us,” coach Stephanie Gaitley said. “It will be a learning process for her on the court, but her knowledge of administration off the court will be vital to the program. She’ll be critical in the success of the overall development of our players.”

Sullivan arrives after working two years in sales for AND 1, a basketball merchandise company. She worked with representatives and managers to ensure shipping and accounts were properly maintained, and also detitle with customer inquiries.

Sullivan was a four-year member and two-year captain of the basketball team at Chestnut Hill, closing with 1,277 points to become the school’s first player to reach quadruple digits. She competed on the softball team for two seasons and was treasurer of the student government.

The Avon-by-the-Sea, NJ native graduated Chestnut Hill in 2000 with a B.A. in English and a minor in communications. She will be studying Early Childhood Elementary Education at LIU.