The Marist women’s basketball program has announced changes to the staff for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Assistant coach Alisa Kresge, assistant coach Dominique Bryant, and Director of Basketball Operations Leanne Ockenden will all be moving on from the program to new positions.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for the Marist family to lose three great coaches,” head coach Brian Giorgis said. “Ultimately, we’re extremely happy that they’re moving onto newer positions and pursuing their career goals. We’ve been fortunate to have little to no transition for the last eight or so years in a college landscape that has had so much.”
Kresge, who takes on a new position as an Associate Head Coach at the University of Vermont, leaves after her seventh season as an assistant coach on Giorgis’ staff. Kresge was involved in working with the team’s guards while also helping the staff with recruiting, alumni relations, and the Marist Girls’ Basketball Camp.
Not only was Kresge an important part of the coaching staff but she was also one of the greatest players to take the court for the Red Foxes in the program’s history. A three time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Kresge is still the program’s all-time leader in assists with 596. In 2007, Kresge helped lead Marist to the first Sweet 16 appearance by a men’s or women’s basketball team in MAAC history. In Kresge’s four years at Marist, the Red Foxes won 94 games and earned their first three NCAA Tournament berths.
After a storied playing career, Ockenden moved into the two-year role as Director of Basketball Operations and will pursue options outside of basketball going forward. Ockenden was a standout guard for the Red Foxes from 2010-14. Like Kresge, Ockenden was one of the top defensive players in program history and was named the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior.
Ockenden’s career total of 1,120 points ranks 15th in program history. She also is among the program’s all-time leaders in games played (tied for third, 135), three-pointers made (fourth, 207), three-point percentage (eighth, .339), and steals (eighth, 186).
Assistant coach Bryant departs for Manhattan College and a spot on the Jaspers’ new staff. Bryant leaves after her third season as an assistant coach on Giorgis’ staff. During her time with Marist, Bryant was responsible for the player development of the post players, preparing scouting reports and film breakdowns, and assisting with recruiting. Bryant also served as the Director of Camps, Shooting Clinics and Elite Camps.
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