Jan. 14, 2008

Stony Brook, N.Y. - Stony Brook University's Department of Athletics has added a new member to its administrative staff with the announcement by Director of Athletics Jim Fiore that Sue Serafini has been hired as Assistant Director of Athletics for Sports Administration. "We are thrilled to welcome Sue Serafini to the Stony Brook family", Director of Athletics Jim Fiore stated. "She brings a wealth of experience in the athletics field which will serve her well in dealing with the variety of responsibilities she will have in this position. I expect that Sue will be a great complement to our current administrative and coaching staff and know that her talents will only add to the strengths of the Stony Brook Athletics Department."

Serafini brings more than 16 years of athletics experience to the Stony Brook program as both an administrator and coach. Prior to her most recent position as an advanced scout for the New York Liberty of the WNBA, Sue served as the director of the Fit 4 Me program, a joint venture of Women 4 Women and the University of Louisville Athletic Department. This program was supported by Louisville Metro Government and the Mayors' office and utilized the University of Louisville's female student-athletes to conduct a fitness, nutrition and empowerment after school program for middle-school girls.

"I am extremely excited to join the athletic administrative staff at Stony Brook University," said Sue Serafini. "I look forward to being a part of the administrative team and having the opportunity to work under the strong leadership of Athletic Director Jim Fiore. It is a great time to be a part of Stony Brook University."

Prior to her work with the Fit 4 Me program, Serafini worked in the University of Louisville Athletics Department as a special assistant to the Senior Woman Administrator and Director of Championships. She assisted with the organization and running of a number of championship events, including Conference USA Men's Tennis Championship, Big East Volleyball Championship and the 2005 NCAA Field Hockey National Championships.

Before her time at the University of Louisville, Serafini spent eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Kansas State women's basketball team, where she helped build the Wildcat program into one of the finest in the nation. In her eight seasons with the program, the Wildcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times (1997, 2002, 2003 and 2004), won a WNIT Preseason Championship in 2002 and claimed a share of the Big 12 Conference regular season title in 2004. In addition to coaching responsibilities, Serafini was also responsible for the programs' marketing and promotions, community relations, academic progress and served as the campus and administrative representative for the program at the Big 12, WNIT and NCAA tournament appearances.

Serafini began her coaching career at the University of Scranton where she coached both women's basketball and volleyball. In 1995, as head coach of the basketball team, she led the squad to a 24-2 record, a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament and was named the region's Coach of the Year. During her time as both a head and an assistant coach, the squad won three conference championships and made five NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the Final Four in 1993. Her volleyball teams won one league championship and were three-time divisional finalists.

A 1991 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Serafini played for four years for the women's basketball team and received a bachelor's degree in physical education. She earned a master's degree in human resources/school counseling from the University of Scranton in 1994.