Xavier women’s basketball coach Brian Neal has announced the hiring of Christian Stefanopoulos as an assistant coach.
Stefanopoulos was previously an assistant coach at Seton Hall (2015-16) and brings a total of seven years of assistant coaching experience to the Musketeers.
“Just like you need talent on the playing court, you have to have talented people on staff,” Neal said. “Christian is a respected recruiter that has many connections across the country. She’s also a gifted teacher, skill developer and has worked for some of the top coaches in college basketball. We are thrilled to have her back in the Cincinnati area.”
At Seton Hall, Stefanopoulos helped coach the Pirates to a 23-9 (12-6 BIG EAST) record and a NCAA Tournament appearance. She assisted in coaching three players to All-BIG EAST honors, including Shakena Richardson who became the first Seton Hall player ever taken in the WNBA Draft in April.
“It’s an honor to be back home to coach and become a part of the Xavier family,” said Stefanopoulos. “Xavier is a very special place and has a rich tradition in men’s and women’s basketball. Xavier has always meant a lot to me and my family because of the time we spent playing basketball at Schmidt Fieldhouse when I was growing up.”
Stefanopoulos coached at Kentucky in 2014-15, helping the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth straight season. She also served as the team’s video coordinator from 2007-10.
Stefanopoulos also had assistant coaching stints at Bucknell (2012-14) and at Morehead State (2010-12).
The Florence, Ky., native played collegiately at Austin Peay (2002-04) and Thomas More (2005-06). She helped the Lady Govs capture back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference titles during her time in Clarksville, Tenn., before wrapping up her career with a Presidents’ Athletic Conference title in 2006.
“I am excited to work with Coach Neal after playing for him in college,” added Stefanopoulos. “I know from experience that he cares about his student-athletes on and off the court. He challenges his student-athletes to be better basketball players and better people by doing things the right way.
“After playing for Coach Neal, I know I grew as a person and a player. I’m thankful for this opportunity and looking forward to be a part of the great things ahead for the team and program.”
Stefanopoulos holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Thomas More (2006) and a master’s degree in sports administration from Morehead State (2014).
Tagged with: Assistant DI
