Gabby Holko has been named Head Women’s Basketball Coach/Compliance Coordinator at Marywood University according to an announcement made by Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, Director of Athletics and Recreation. Holko comes to Marywood after serving as Assistant Women’s Coach and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) at nearby Lackawanna College.
“I am so grateful and honored to have the opportunity to lead the Marywood University Women’s Basketball Program” said Holko. “I would like to thank Athletic Director, Dr. Mary Jo Gunning, Andrew Smith and the rest of the search committee for taking the time with me and believing in me as a first time head coach. I am very excited to continue building on the strong foundation that was established with Pacers Basketball over the years. Marywood University has all of the right tools in place to attract high level student-athletes who will get us to the top of the newly formed Atlantic East Conference. The prior Head Coaches that I worked with instilled within me a high energy coaching style and strong work ethic which I am excited to bring to the Pacer Family.”
“I am confident that Gabby will lead our Pacer Women’s Basketball program effectively into this initial season and beyond as competitors in the new Atlantic East Conference” Dr. Gunning stated. “As a Head Coach, her emphasis on commitment and hard work, both on and off the court, will serve our student-athletes in a quality manner. As an Administrator, her role and example will be a beacon to provide balance and appropriate priorities for student-athletes in the many responsibilities they juggle in their collegiate experience.”
Prior to Lackawanna, Holko spent one year at Division III Allegheny College in Meadville where she served as an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach and Skill Development Coach. While at Allegheny, which is a member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, Holko was involved with all aspects of the basketball program which included recruiting, creating scouting reports, practice planning, running camps and clinics, coordinating travel and team study hall. She coached All-NCAC player Olivia Barkel who averaged 10.3 points per game shooting .424 from the floor and 6.1 rebounds per game. During her time at Allegheny, four players were named to the NCAC Academic Honor Roll and the team had a 3.2 grade point average.
“I am honored to get the opportunity to work with such great young women who see Marywood Women’s Basketball at the top” Holko added. “It is my ultimate goal to mentor these strong, bright, and proud student-athletes to be successful not only in their time here at Marywood University but in their lives and careers after graduation.”
“I would also like to thank Joya Whittington (Lackawanna College) and Kate Costanzo (Allegheny College) for being such great mentors throughout my time with each of them and their programs. They are both outstanding head coaches who have the bigger picture in mind which is teaching these young women life through basketball. They have both shown me what it means to be a great Head Coach and I am very excited to continue the journey and create my own program.”
Prior to Allegheny, Holko served a two-year stint as a graduate assistant coach at Misericordia University where she assisted in all facets of the program and was responsible for recruiting, practice planning, coordinating the scout team, and the creation of scouting reports. In addition, Holko coordinated the logistics of camps and clinics, the program’s annual Play4Kay game and dining and lodging for team travel. Between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons, the Cougars saw a six-win improvement while playing in the MAC Freedom Conference.
“Gabby stood out among several very qualified candidates due to her enthusiasm and vision for the student-athletes at Marywood” said Andrew Smith, Chair of the Search Committee. “We are confident that she will continue to lead one of our strongest programs to success both on and off the court. We are honored to give Gabby her first Head Coaching role and feel that she is a true ‘up-and-comer’ in the coaching world” Smith added.
As an athlete, Holko starred for Westminster (Pa.) College from 2010-2014. She was team captain for the 2013-14 season, finishing her senior campaign on the All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Second Team while also garnering Team MVP honors. Holko finished second in program history for career three-point field goals with 153 and also shares the school single-game record with six three’s in a 65-49 win over Washington & Jefferson on December 10, 2011.
A native of Pittsburgh, Holko graduated from Westminster in 2014 with her Bachelor’s Degree in History. In May 2016 she completed her Master’s Degree from Misericordia in Organizational Management with a focus in Human Resources.
Photo Courtesy Marywood Athletics
https://marywoodpacers.com/news/2018/6/22/holko-named-head-womens-basketball-coach.aspx
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