STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook women's basketball head coach Ashley Langford has announced the hiring of assistant coach TJ Sawyer and promotion of Zach Goding to director of basketball operations.
 
Sawyer joins coach Langford's staff after serving as an assistant coach at Vermont for the past four seasons. In 2021-22, Vermont went 20-11, 13-5 America East and a made trip to the conference semifinals with Sawyer on staff. Coach Sawyer helped lead the team to its first 20-win season since the 2009-10 campaign.
 
"I'm excited to add TJ to our program. He's coming from a very successful program and he knows how to win. His infectious positivity and ability to connect with people will help elevate our women and the Stony Brook community," said coach Langford.
 
Before his stint on staff at Vermont, Sawyer coached basketball in the Burlington, Vt. area since 2009 and joined the Catamounts after two years as the girls' varsity coach at South Burlington High School. In his final season at South Burlington, the team posted a record of 15-7 and finished fourth in the entire state in Division I.
 
Sawyer previously served three years as an assistant coach at St. Michael's College and was the varsity coach at Colchester High School from 2009-13.
 
Goding has been promoted to Director of Basketball Operations after previously serving as the Seawolves' video coordinator during the 2021-22 campaign. In his first season on Long Island, Stony Brook posted a 23-6, 14-4 America East record. The Seawolves' 23 wins last season were tied for the fourth-most in a season in program history.
 
"Zach is so well deserving of this promotion. His work ethic and attention to detail will help him thrive in this position. It's been fun watching him grow as a person and I look forward to his next step within our program," said coach Langford.
 
Stony Brook picked up marquee wins over two Power Five opponents in Washington State (69-62 on Dec. 19, 2021) and Rutgers (53-44 on Nov. 16, 2021) with Goding on staff. The wins were the third and fourth over Power Five opponents in program history.
 
Prior to his time on coach Langford's staff at Stony Brook, Goding spent three seasons as a student manager at North Carolina State University, where he managed operations for team practices, games, and travel for the program. While he was on staff as a student manager, NC State went on to win the 2020 ACC Tournament, its first ACC Tournament title in 29 years.
 
Over his three seasons at NC State, he provided support to the coaching staff by producing scouting reports and video analysis. He helped refine the character and skill of the program, while working closely with the coaching staff, which aided the team as it made back-to-back trips to the NCAA Sweet 16.
 
Goding has also held roles at PGC Basketball as a Sales/Service Representative, as well as TPG Sports Group as a Pro Scout School Intern. He received his bachelor's degree from NC State in 2020.
 
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