Ladyjacks Add Assistant Coach
9/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 14, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - James Stellato has been hired as an assistant coach Stephen F. Austin Ladyjack head coach Lee Ann Riley announced Monday afternoon.
"Every coach wants to better their program with the hires they make," said Riley. "The great thing about Jimmy is he brings a ton of experience from different levels of the game. He has worked hard throughout his career, and has really earned his way here.
"As a coach you also want to hire people who possess different strengths than you. I've always had a passion for working with the defense, and Jimmy is a very offensive-minded individual. I believe he will be able to expand our team's capabilities and make us a better," added Riley.
Stellato comes to Nacogdoches from Texas Woman's University where he served as an assistant coach. During his time in Denton, TWU recorded one of its most successful seasons in school history. The Pioneers compiled their second-best record in school history, and recorded the most wins since 1990.
Following the year, the honors began rolling in for the Pioneers. Three athletes earned all-conference honors, while one received Daktronics All-Region recognition.
Prior to his stop in Denton, Stellato spent six seasons in Carthage, Texas, as the associate head coach at Panola College. During that time the Fillies posted two top 20 finishes, including a No. 6 national ranking in 2005, which saw Panola record a program best 29-5 record.
Stellato helped Panola become one of the most offensively explosive teams in the nation. The Fillies led the nation averaging 93.63 points per contest in 2005, and no other team outscored Panola between 2002-07 (90.3 ppg).
Stellato recorded a strong track record of helping athletes move on to four-year institutions. While in Carthage 13 athletes signed NCAA Division I scholarships, eight moved onto NCAA Division II institutions, and five advanced to NAIA schools. He also helped coach 14 all-conference selections, seven all-region honorees, two NJCAA All-Americans, six NJCAA Academic All-Americans and 1 NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American.
-SFA-
