Drexel University Women’s Basketball head coach Amy Mallon announced changes to her supporting coaching staff on Friday. Mallon promoted Stacy Weiss to associate head coach while hiring two assistant coaches to fill out the staff: Laura Kurz and Jillian Dunston.
STACY WEISS / ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH
Stacy Weiss returns for her 13th season with the Dragons’ staff and her eighth in a coaching capacity. Weiss is now the associate head coach under Mallon, her first year with the task. Weiss spent her first four seasons as the coordinator of basketball operations before earning a position as an assistant coach prior to the 2012-13 campaign. She became the program’s recruiting coordinator before the 2015-16 season. A 2008 Drexel graduate, Weiss completed her playing career that year and joined the program’s staff. For four years, she was responsible for day-to-day operations of the office as well as coordinating many elements of the team’s travel and practice schedule. Weiss assumed a new role within the program prior to the 2012-13 season. Her leadership ability and familiarity with the program made her a natural addition to the staff in an assistant coaching position and had already proven invaluable in recruiting.
“I am beyond excited to announce Stacy as our associate head coach,” Mallon said. “Stacy epitomizes the mantra ‘I am a Dragon,’ first as a player and now as a coach. Her organization, ability to develop plays and knack for strategy makes her a true asset to our program.”
LAURA KURZ / ASSISTANT COACH & RECRUITING COORDINATOR
Laura Kurz joins Drexel for her first season with the program in 2020-21. Kurz comes to University City by way of the Main Line after serving as an assistant coach at Villanova University for five seasons from 2015-20. In her role at Villanova, Kurz assisted with on-court duties, handling film breakdown and film analysis while serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator. Kurz earned her degree from Villanova in 2009. She was a member of the Villanova women’s basketball program from 2006-09 after transferring from Duke University. At Villanova, she was a 2009 Honorable Mention All-American, Naismith Player of the Year nominee, All-Big East First Team member and Big 5 Player of the Year. In her two seasons at Duke, the Blue Devils made the 2005 Elite Eight and the 2006 Final Four. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Lehigh University from 2012-2014. Following her two-year stint at Lehigh, Kurz worked one year as a Development Associate at Penn Charter High School in Philadelphia.
“We are extremely lucky to have Laura join our staff and program,” Mallon said. “I have known Laura since she was a local high school player at Germantown Academy. I admired her intensity and competitiveness as a player in high school and college, where she experienced tremendous success. Her recruiting experience and success as an assistant coach is truly a strength and having her lead that area for us will take us to another level.”
JILLIAN DUNSTON / ASSISTANT COACH
Jillian Dunston joins Drexel for her first season with the program in 2020-21. Dunston most recently served as a graduate assistant for the Florida State University women’s basketball team for the past two seasons, joining the Seminoles’ program in June 2018. In Tallahassee, she assisted coaches with personnel scouting for opponents, guided scout players throughout practice, worked with the team’s social media accounts and was involved with recruiting coordinating tasks. Dunston played for the University of Michigan from 2014-18 and served as the team captain during her senior year in 2017-18 while helping the Wolverines to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013. When she graduated, she ranked second all-time at Michigan in career rebounds.
“Jillian is a competitor and a team player,” Mallon said. “I first noticed this in her when we were recruiting her as a player out of high school. The mentality she had at Michigan and the success she was a part of there will help our staff and program. Her tremendous personality and ties to the DC-Maryland-Virginia area will be key as she takes on recruiting responsibilities. More importantly, she will contribute to the continued development of our players, a major part of what has made Drexel successful over the years.”
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