STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook University women's basketball head coach Ashley Langford has been named to the mid-season watch list for the 2024 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award, presented by Her Hoop Stats.
Langford is one of 10 head coaches represented on the mid-season award list and the only coach from the CAA to garner the honor. In the inaugural season of the honor, the Mid-Major Coach of the Year award is named after the legendary former Harvard head coach Kathy Delaney-Smith.
Over her three seasons on Long Island, Langford has guided the Seawolves to a stellar 56-21 record, including a 32-5 mark at Island Federal Arena. Coach Langford has posted the highest winning percentage (.727) of any head coach in program history and the team has averaged 20 wins per season under her watch. On Dec. 21, Langford became the fastest to 50 career wins at the helm of the Seawolves after their victory against Iona.
Under the direction of Langford, the Seawolves are currently 15-2 (5-1 CAA) this season and have been represented in the College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 poll for 11 straight weeks. The squad has also had four CAA Player of the Week honors (
Khari Clark three times and Gigi Gonzlaez once) and received numerous awards, including Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Midseason Finalist (Clark) and MET Player of the Week (
Gigi Gonzalez).
Pacing the Seawolves on both ends of the court are G. Gonzlaez and Clark. G. Gonzalez ranks second in the CAA in scoring (16.3) and assists per game (5.6), while Clark is currently fourth in the CAA in scoring (15.8), eighth in rebounds (7.4) and fourth in blocks per game (1.5).
Offensively, Stony Brook picked up right where they left off last year after finishing second in the CAA in total offense. The Seawolves lead the CAA in points per game (76.6), field goal percentage (45%), three-point percentage (35%), free-throw percentage (78.6), rebounds per game (42.7), and assists per game (16.2). The Stony Brook defense has stepped up and been instrumental in the Seawolves' success this season. Langford's defense is No. 14 in the NCAA in opponent's field goal percentage and eighth in the nation in three-point field goal percentage defense.
To be eligible for the award, coaches must compete in one of the 26 conferences deemed to be "mid-major." The five finalists for the award will be announced in March, with the winner being named around the Final Four. Coaches will be assessed throughout the entire season, including postseason play.
The Seawolves return to the court next Sunday, Jan. 28, as they host Drexel at 2 p.m., in the first of two meetings this season. Stony Brook will be seeking its first win against the Dragons in program history.
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