GW women’s basketball coach Jennifer Rizzotti announced Monday that Sarah Overcash and Ariel Stephenson have been added to the team’s coaching staff for the 2020-21 season, and will serve as graduate assistants.
“We are excited to add Sarah and Ariel to our staff this season as they pursue their graduate degrees,” Rizzotti said. “I have worked hard to surround myself with great people in my coaching career. These two women, who have proudly represented our program on the court, will be no different.”
Overcash earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from GW in May after appearing in 48 games for the Colonials over the last two seasons. The Chevy Chase, Md., native began her career at Illinois before transferring to GW in 2017 and becoming a versatile piece for the Colonials. She appeared in 48 games during her Buff & Blue career, starting 12 while standing out with her willingness to put the team above self and leading by example on and off the court.
After serving as a captain in 2018-19, Overcash was named “Best Teammate” by her peers and coaching staff following the 2019-20 season. She will begin work towards her graduate degree in Sport Management in the fall.
“I’m very excited to be joining the staff and learning under some of the best coaches in the business,” Overcash said. “I’m looking forward to using my experience as a GW alum to help the team achieve success, and now learn about the inner workings of a program that student-athletes don’t always see.
“I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities at GW and am eager to start this new chapter with my GW family.”
“Sarah has had a team-first mentality since she arrived in Foggy Bottom,” Rizzotti added. “Her tenure as a student-athlete at GW will make her an invaluable addition to the coaching group. She is a leader, she understands what positive team culture looks like and she knows the game. I am happy to give her the experience to see what it’s like on the coaching side.”
Stephenson arrived in Foggy Bottom in 2019 as a graduate transfer from Wake Forest. Despite battling injuries, the Prince George, Va., native appeared in 24 games, starting 16 for the Buff & Blue. While playing 20.0 mpg, she averaged nearly 5.0 ppg and earned the Coaches Award for her efforts in the 2019-20 season.
Stephenson, who took part in the WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” program this spring, is pursuing her Master’s in Sport Management.
“I am grateful and blessed to be able to start this new chapter of my life at such an amazing place like GW,” Stephenson said. “I’m so excited to work with this staff filled with knowledgeable coaches, driven competitors and all-around great people. I’m ready to be a sponge, and soak up all that I can from Xs and Os, to recruiting and everything in between.”
“It was extremely apparent from the first day Ariel arrived at GW that she was meant to be a coach,” Rizzotti added. “I am excited to see her operate in this new role, and I know she will use her voice and her basketball knowledge to positively impact our players as a leader and role model.”
Overcash and Stephenson join Anna Savino (GW ’19) as graduate assistants for the program this coming year. GW is the only program in the Atlantic 10 to have multiple alumnae currently serve as GAs on the coaching staff.
