Head women’s basketball coach Danielle Santos Atkinson announced the addition of Shaaliyah Lyons and Julie Bolden to her staff as well as the promotion of Mike Jagacki to Assistant Coach.
Mike Jagacki is entering his third season on the Hofstra women’s basketball staff after serving the first two seasons as the programs Video Coordinator. In his role as Assistant Coach, Jagacki takes on opponent scouting and recruiting responsibilities, will oversee the Pride’s defensive strategies, and will work with perimeter players.
“I’m thrilled to have Mike as an assistant coach on our staff,” said Santos Atkinson. “Mike has been an asset to our program for the past two years in a variety of ways. He has an in-depth analytical basketball mindset that has helped us improve offensively and defensively, he has a great work ethic and he is eager to learn. We are looking forward to the impact he will have on our staff and in our program!”
Jagacki, the creator of Lockdown Defense, also spent time as the men’s Associate Head Coach at Combine Academy in Lincolntown, North Carolina. In addition, he was Varsity Assistant Coach and JV Boys Basketball Coach at Middlesex High School for four seasons.
In addition, Santos Atkinson welcomes two new staff members in Shaaliyah Lyons and Julie Bolden.
“Shaaliyah and Julie are two rising stars in this profession,” added Santos Atkinson. “Both are passionate about their roles with experience at many levels.
Lyons joins the Hofstra women’s basketball program as the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations. She arrives at Hofstra by way of Seton Hall University where she served in a similar role for the Pirates for four seasons. In South Orange, Lyons managed all facets of the women’s basketball program including travel logistics, camps, community service initiatives, and leadership programs. She also coordinated numerous special events and served as the team’s academic liaison.
“Shaaliyah has great experience in operations, but she is also passionate about assisting student-athletes with life skills and helps them achieve their post-graduation goals. Her leadership skills and abilities will help elevate our staff,” mentioned Santos Atkinson.
Outside of college athletics, Lyons is the Founder and CEO of Together We Conquer Life Skills Basketball Camp in Essex County, New Jersey, a non-profit organization that provides mentorship and academic resources to assist student-athletes with life after college. She created workshops that assisted student-athletes in their academic, athletic, and professional life while collaborating with local and national organizations to create strategic partnerships. Her philanthropic work continued into 2018 when she spent time with Managers on a Mission in Mzuzu, Malawi, when she was selected as one of 20 future leaders of sport to lead a mission trip in Africa.
Lyons obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from Seton Hall University in 2017 with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management. She also earned a certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies and a minor in Africana Studies while also serving as a student manager on the women’s basketball team. Lyons continued her education at Seton Hall and earned her Master’s of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management in July 2020. She concluded her studies with a certificate in Strategic Communication and Leadership in May 2021.
Bolden joins the Hofstra women’s basketball program as Video Coordinator, where she will be responsible for planning, editing, producing and compiling all video packaging utilized for scouting, recruiting, practices, game preparation and promotional videos. Most recently, Bolden was a graduate manager for the Ohio State University women’s basketball program, assisting directly with the Director of Operations to help daily tasks. In addition, she assisted with drills during practice, recruiting visits, equipment, and social media content.
“Julie has had great mentors and has really worked to develop her skills and techniques,” added Santos Atkinson. “She has a great ability to scout and break down basketball schemes, but she also brings creativity skills that will continue to help us recruit top talent to Hofstra.”
Prior to her time as a graduate student, Bolden was a Volunteer Coach for the girls’ basketball program at Colerain High School. During her stint in 2016, Bolden created and developed practice plans and curated drills to improve individual and team skill development.
Bolden, a 2020 graduate from the University of Cincinnati, earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Communication. She is now working toward her Master’s Degree in Sports Coaching.
