Bronx, N.Y. – Fresh off the program's second-ever Atlantic 10 championship and a share of its first-ever regular season crown, Fordham women's basketball head coach
Stephanie Gaitley has signed a two-year extension, it was announced today, keeping her in the Bronx through the 2024-25 campaign. Gaitley has spent eight seasons at the helm on Rose Hill and is now set for six more.
"We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Gaitley leading our women's basketball program," Director of Athletics Dave Roach said in a statement, "Her success is unparalleled in Fordham history and I'm ecstatic to extend her contract to 2025. I look forward to continuing to work with her and her staff in enhancing our women's basketball program."
Gaitley and the Rams just wrapped up a 25-9 season, tied for third-most wins in program history, that included a 12-game win streak, tying a school record, and a nine-game conference win streak, setting a new program benchmark, as the team coasted to the school's second Atlantic 10 title. After starting the year 5-5, the team went 20-3 over its next 23 games to finish with a school record 13-3 record in Atlantic 10 play, a share of the regular season title, and a first-round bye. The Rams disposed of Massachusetts, Duquesne, and VCU by an average margin of victory of just under 23 points in winning the league championship. Fordham then earned a 14 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where its season ended at nationally-ranked Syracuse in the first round.
"I want to thank Father McShane, Jeff Gray, and Dave Roach, for their continued belief in me and our program," Gaitley said, "While what we have accomplished at Fordham is very special, I believe the best is yet to come. I must also thank our players and staff as I have always believed no personal achievements are possible without a total team effort. The 'F' in Fordham has always stood for faith and family. I'm honored to be part of the Ram Family."
This year's run to the NCAA Tournament was the program's sixth postseason berth in eight seasons under Coach Gaitley, as well as the team's sixth 20-win campaign and third 25-win campaign. Previously, Fordham had reached the NCAA Tournament after winning the 2013-14 A-10 championship and had earned four WNIT berths, including two straight and three in the last four years. A year ago, the Rams made a run to the WNIT Sweet Sixteen, matching the program's longest postseason run. A two-time Maggie Dixon Metropolitan Writers Coach of the Year, including a year ago, Gaitley is poised to repeat at the awards dinner later this month.
Gaitley's Rams have been within the top-50 nationally in scoring defense in all eight seasons and this year's group allowed just 54.4 points per contest, ranked ninth in the country, the program's highest-ever finish. Fordham was also ranked within the top-10 in the country in turnovers per game (11.5 – 7
th) and fouls per game (13.3 – 9
th). Even more impressive was the fact that Gaitley's Rams were one of the youngest groups in the country, with just three upperclassmen to 13 underclassmen. The Rams were also 37
th in assist/turnover ratio (1.14) and sank the 37
th-most three-pointers in the nation (267), a new school record.
Senior
Mary Goulding and redshirt sophomore
Bre Cavanaugh became the only Fordham teammates in the Atlantic 10 era (since 1995) to both earn First Team All-Conference honors, the former also receiving All-Academic recognition, and both were named to the All-Championship team, as well, with Goulding taking home Most Outstanding Player honors. The duo were also named ECAC honorable mention.
Through eight seasons in the Bronx, Gaitley holds a 169-95 record, including an 81-43 record in conference play. She is second all-time with 188 career Atlantic 10 victories, behind Joe McKeown, George Washington's former long-time coach. Overall, Gaitley has a 633-365 career record. Her 633 wins rank 51
st all-time among all divisions and 32
nd in Division I history. Among her active contemporaries in Division I, she ranks 17
th.
