WASHINGTON – Gallaudet University Athletics Director Warren Keller, '10, has announced the promotion of Stephanie Stevens to Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

Coach Stevens enters her 14th year at Gallaudet and 12th as the head coach of the women's basketball program. For the past nine years, Stevens served as the department's Health and Wellness Liaison.

"Over my two and a half years here, I have observed how Stephanie has worked with others, turning dreams into reality through careful planning and collaboration," said Keller. "Stephanie's leadership transcends expectations, her wisdom enriches our path, and her commitment inspires us all. She will continue to support our programs, oversee sports and programs, make key decisions, and contribute to strategic planning. I am very excited to begin working closely with Stephanie in her new administrative position."

In 11 seasons, Coach Stevens has compiled a 134-151 overall record and 104-82 United East conference record. Last year, Coach Stevens led the Bison to a 17-10 record and 10-2 mark in conference. The Bison lost in the Volt Division semifinal but got to the postseason as they hosted the ECAC Division III Women's Basketball Championship. Gallaudet earned three all-conference honors and three major awards including Coach of the Year. Stevens has been named Coach of the Year three different times by her peers.

"As the newly appointed SWA at Gallaudet, I am beyond excited to champion inclusivity, elevate the voices of our student-athletes, and continue learning alongside our incredible athletic administrators," said Stevens. "Together with our Athletic Department, we'll keep building on the strong foundation of success, creating a future of empowered leadership and boundless opportunities beyond their college experience."

The NCAA encourages member institutions to identify a Senior Woman Administrator within the department administrative team. The senior woman administrator is the highest-ranking female in each athletics department who is not the director of athletics.  The purpose of the SWA designation is to promote meaningful representations of women in the leadership and management of college sports. The NCAA membership voted to create the SWA designation in 1981, the same year it added championship for women. The designation is intended to ensure that women are involved in the administration of college athletics. Among the benefits of the SWA role are the enhanced quality of decision making resulting from the inclusion of diverse perspectives in leadership, provides a visible presence of female role models for student-athletes and staff and diverse points of contact on the senior management team for student-athletes and staff to bring issues or concerns.

Stevens spent last summer as a member of the NCAA College Basketball Academy coaching staff for a second straight year. Stevens also served four years on the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee (2017-21).

Stevens was one of six nominees for the 2022 NCAA Division III LGBTQ Athletics Administrator/Coach/Staff of the Year Award, which recognizes and honors the service, leadership and promotion of LGBTQ inclusion by an LGBTQ athletics administrator, coach or staff member in Division III.

Prior to being named Gallaudet's women's basketball head coach back in July 2012, Stevens spent one year as the Coordinator of Recruiting Operations for the nationally ranked University of Maryland women's basketball program.

Stevens served as an assistant coach with the Gallaudet women's basketball during the 2010-11 season when the Bison posted a 24-4 record, were nationally ranked, and returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999.

Stevens attended the University of Cincinnati where she lettered four years in women's basketball for the Bearcats. She was a four-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection and was named to the University of Cincinnati Dean's List every semester for four years. She was also a member of Cincinnati's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for four years. She graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education with a focus on Sign Language Interpreting and Deaf Studies. During the spring of 2010, Stevens interned as an interpreter with a local Family Service Association in Cincinnati to help with community services for the deaf.

Stevens is a native of Pickerington, Ohio, and attended Pickerington Central for high school where she played basketball and was named Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Association Division I Player of the Year and selected to the all-state first team during her senior season (2006). She was rated the 33rd best point guard in her class in the nation. Stevens will be inducted into the Pickerington High School Central Hall of Fame on Sept. 21, 2024.

Stevens earned her Master of Arts in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University Irvine (Calif.) in May 2015.