OFFICIAL RELEASE
Stony Brook University has named Beth O’Boyle as head women’s basketball coach, Stony Brook Director of the Athletics Jim Fiore announced on Thursday. O’Boyle has 12 years of collegiate coaching experience and comes to Stony Brook following four years at Canisius College, where she served as the associate head women’s basketball coach for the past two seasons.
O’Boyle, the eighth women’s basketball head coach in Stony Brook history and the fourth in the Division I era, will be formally introduced at a press conference in the Goldstein Family Student-Athlete Development Center within Stony Brook’s Indoor Sports Complex on Monday, April 11, at 11 a.m.
“Developing a successful women’s basketball program is a high priority at Stony Brook, and I firmly believe that our student-athletes will excel under Beth’s leadership,” Fiore said. “I chose Beth as our next head coach because of her obvious passion and dedication for the game; for her abilities to recruit, teach and mentor winning student-athletes; and for her commitment to student-athlete welfare.
“Coach O’Boyle embodies all the qualities we were looking for in a head women’s basketball coach, and under her leadership, I am certain that she will guide our program to annually compete for America East Conference championships and the opportunity to play in the postseason.”
“I want to thank Jim Fiore and the members of the search committee for this tremendous honor,” O’Boyle said. “I am extremely enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve a university that is so highly respected, is committed to excellence in both academics and athletics, and is dedicated to winning America East Conference championships. I am confident that we will build a winning culture at Stony Brook, develop a program that the community and alumni will be proud to support, and provide our student-athletes the best experience possible both on the court and in the classroom.”
O’Boyle helped Canisius to its best season in school history in 2008-09 as the Golden Griffins won 24 games, advanced to the MAAC Championship game and qualified for the WNIT for the first time in program history. The 24 wins were the most in the program’s Division I history and the most by a Canisius women’s basketball team in 25 years.
Hired as an assistant coach at Canisius in 2007, O’Boyle was elevated to associate head coach in November 2009. Responsible for all recruiting activities, as well the development of the Golden Griffin guards, O’Boyle coached seven All-Conference players at Canisius, including 2009 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Defensive Player of the Year Brittane Russell, 2009 MAAC Sixth Player of the Year Ellie Radke and 2011 MAAC Rookie of the Year Jamie Ruttle.
O’Boyle has also shown a commitment to developing the total student-athlete. At Canisius, she monitored the academic progress of a Golden Griffins team that was recognized in the NCAA Top 25 for team grade point average. In total, Canisius has had 18 selections to the MAAC All-Academic team since O’Boyle’s arrival, including Marie Warner, who was also named a ESPN the Magazine third-team Academic All-American in 2009.
O’Boyle came to Canisius after serving as the head coach at Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., for three seasons. O’Boyle led the Red Hawks to their first-ever ECAC Division III Metro Women’s Basketball Championship in 2006-07 and was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year following the 2005-06 season. She compiled a 51-33 record in her three seasons there, and the Red Hawks also produced their first All-American in 15 seasons under O’Boyle’s guidance.
Prior to taking over at Montclair State, O’Boyle spent four seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rochester. During her first two seasons, Rochester won back-to-back ECAC Upstate New York championships and in her last two seasons, the team made consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Final Four. In 2004, the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for a three-week period according to the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Division III poll and the D3hoops.com poll.
A 1998 graduate of Gettysburg College, O’Boyle earned four letters with the basketball and soccer programs at Gettysburg and served as a two-time captain in each sport. O’Boyle earned her master’s degree from the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education in 2001.
O’Boyle is a native of Rockville, Md., and attended the Academy of the Holy Cross High School in Kensington, Md.
Transaction – Stony Brook University names Beth O’Boyle Head Women’s Basketball Coach.
What They are Saying about Beth O’Boyle...
“I was lucky to have played for Coach O’Boyle. She is a very dedicated and passionate coach. She brings a level of intensity and dedication to practice, and her preparation is second to none. She demands the same work ethic she has from her players, and I think that’s what makes her successful. I think she is going to do great things at Stony Brook, and I’m really excited for her.”
- Amanda Cavo, Canisius ’09 and former professional basketball player in Germany
“I’m very excited for Stony Brook University and Beth O’Boyle. Stony Brook is getting the complete package in Beth as she is a winner in all aspects. Her teams will achieve a high level of success both on the court and in the classroom. The young women who play for Beth will receive a lifelong education and be great representatives of Stony Brook University.”
- Terry Zeh, Canisius College Head Women’s Basketball Coach
“Coach O’Boyle is a natural leader and gifted teacher. She is dedicated to the development of young women as student-athletes. She motivates her players to achieve beyond their ability. She is a fantastic hire, and I look forward to following the success the Stony Brook women’s basketball program.”
- Cathy Rush, Founder of Future Stars and 2008 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
“After getting a chance to meet her during the interview process, I believe Beth O’Boyle will bring energy, passion, discipline and a winning attitude to our women’s basketball program. I think she possesses all the components necessary to win championships in the America East, and I think she will be a great addition to the Stony Brook community.”
- Steve Pikiell, Stony Brook University Head Men’s Basketball Coach
“I am proud to be a Stony Brook alum and was honored to be part of the committee to hire a new women’s basketball coach. I feel Beth has the experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm to lead the team to postseason play. I am excited and look forward to seeing the team achieve great success.”
- Lisa White, Stony Brook ’87, Stony Brook Athletics Hall of Fame member and current head athletic trainer/manager of basketball operations for WNBA’s New York Liberty
