ASSISTANT COACH
JENNIFER PAYES
Strong defense was a staple for Jennifer Payes as a player and that mindset has helped LIU improve as one of the top defensive squads.

Her influence has proven to be a valuable asset as she enters her fifth season as an assistant coach for the Blackbirds.

Payes, who assists in the day-to-day operation of the program, was the first person hired as an assistant by head coach Stephanie V. Gaitley, who guided her at Saint Joseph’s.

“Jen is a younger version of myself,” Gaitley said. “She is someone who is
competitive and enthusiastic. Jen is constantly picking my brain and she has
responded well to the challenge of being at a major program.”

Payes’ know-how of a defensive-minded system has resulted in the Blackbirds
yielding a miniscule 61.2 points last season.

Prior to joining LIU, Payes spent three years as a field service and customer service manager for AT&T Growth Business Services. She developed effective solutions to business problems, was responsible for new revenue growth and managed the implementation of complex orders.

Payes was part of an incredible run at Saint Joseph’s from 1995-99 that saw the school clinch two Atlantic 10 Conference titles, two NCAA Tournament berths and a Women’s National Invitation Tournament appearance.

A defensive standout for a defensive-oriented program, Payes was captain and most valuable player for the Hawks as a senior. She was named the team’s Unsung Hero as a junior and Most Improved Player as a freshman.

Payes helped Saint Joseph’s post a 26-5 mark as a sophomore in 1996-97 and a 23-8 record as a senior in 1998-99. Those clubs notched two of the three highest wins totals in Gaitley’s 10 seasons at Saint Joseph’s and both won the A-10 title.

A 1999 graduate of Saint Joseph’s, Payes earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing. The College Park, Md., native and former Jennifer Greenwell married Mark Payes in August 2003.

ASSISTANT COACH
ANGELIKA SZUMILO
Angelika Szumilo entered the downtown Brooklyn campus in 2000 having never played point guard. After two standout seasons as a player in that role, she is back for her fourth season as an assistant coach at Long Island University.

“Ang is a great diamond in the rough as a coach” head coach Stephanie V. Gaitley said. “She is a great leader by example. The players respect her based on what she has done here. Her international ties have helped us in Poland and we will hopefully bring over another Ang.”

The former Angelika Stec was an integral part of LIU’s success from 2000-2002,
leading the team to a pair of appearances in the Northeast Conference final and the 2001 NEC crown. She is eighth on the school’s all-time assists list with 229.

The Stalowa Vola, Poland native instantly became one of the team’s top
playmakers upon her arrival. Szumilo, who started all 31 contests in 2000-01, dished 136 assists for the second-best total in school history. She also averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Szumilo averaged 13.7 points over three contests during the 2001 NEC Tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. She almost single-handedly took over the final against Mount St. Mary’s, scoring a then career-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting with eight rebounds over 40 minutes in Long Island’s 70-61 victory.

The following season, Szumilo finished third for LIU and 21st in the NEC with 10.7 points per game and played all 30 contests. Szumilo, who averaged 19.4 points in her last seven games and scored in double figures each time, also was among the league leaders that season in steals, assists, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

Szumilo arrived from Mercer Community College, where she was tabbed Region 19 Player of the Year after averaging 14.3 points per game in 1999-2000. The Vikings were region champions both years, including a 28-3 mark in 1998-99.

She and Rafal Szumilo were married in August 2003.

ASSISTANT COACH
SAMI ALLISON
Sami Allison enters her third season as an assistant coach for the Blackbirds. Allison arrived in Brooklyn after one season as an assistant at Saint Francis (Pa.), helping to guide the Red Flash to a 25-6 record and a Northeast Conference crown.

“Sami brings a winning attitude,” head coach Stephanie V. Gaitley said. “She won in junior college and she won at Saint. Francis. She is a hard-nosed player and someone who will make a well-rounded head coach.”

Her foray into coaching came on the heels of two outstanding seasons as a player for Saint Francis, helping the Red Flash win a pair of NEC titles. A three-point threat who also possessed solid rebounding and passing skills, Allison averaged 10.1 points per game in 2001-02 and 7.3 ppg the following season.

A native of Libertyville, Iowa, Allison was named to the NEC All-Tournament team in 2003 after averaging 14.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest. She also made the league’s Academic Honor Roll that year. The Red Flash advanced to the NCAA Tournament each of her two seasons and posted a combined 42-20 record.

Allison also served as a softball coach for the Marion, Iowa, school district in 2001-02. She worked primarily on infield and catching skills as an assistant on the varsity level and also with defensive strategy as head coach with the junior varsity squad.

Allison graduated from St. Francis in 2004 with a 3.817 grade-point average, majoring in marketing and minoring in management. She also posted a 3.6 GPA in two years at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she was on the basketball and softball teams.

At Fairfield High School, Allison was named all-state in volleyball and softball. She also was an all-state qualifier in track and field.

DIRECTOR OF
BASKETBALL OPERATIONS
EMILY HARDY
Emily Hardy joins the Long Island University women’s basketball staff as director of basketball operations. Hardy comes to Long Island from New Hampshire, where she served as team captain during her junior and senior seasons. She was just the 10th player in school history to serve as a two-year captain.

“Emily has the qualities to be an outstanding head coach in the future,” Gaitley said. “She brings great energy, enthusiasm and knowledge to our staff.”

Hardy led the Wildcats to back-to-back winning seasons, as the team went 15-13 in 2005-06 and 15-14 in 2004-05. A threat from beyond the arc, Hardy left her mark on the New Hampshire program by finishing in 10th place on the all-time three-pointers made list with 73. In her senior season, she averaged 3.9 points per game, dished out 48 assists and knocked down 21 trifectas in 28 games.

In addition to other duties for the Blackbirds, the Westbrook, Conn., native will oversee tape exchange, community service and the players’ academic progress. She graduated from New Hampshire in 2006 with a dual major in international affairs and humanities.