In Return to Jefferson, New Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Stephanie Carideo Joins Select Few

“Working under Naismith Hall of Fame Coach Herb Magee is a privilege,” says Carideo, who earned her BS in psychology in 2011 and innovation MBA in 2012. “As a player, I have always had the utmost respect for Coach and the program that he has created. Now as a coach myself, I’m looking forward to learning from him and assisting in any way I can to help achieve the ultimate goals of winning the CACC and making a run for the NCCA Championship.”

The former point guard most recently served as the women’s basketball head coach at Division III Penn State University’s Abington campus for two seasons. She went from 5-16 in her first season there to setting a program record for wins — going 22-5 in 2014-15 and being named the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Coach of the Year and the Nittany Lions’ Jim McGettigan Coach of the Year. It also marked the first time the PSU Abington women’s basketball program made the NEAC playoffs, hosted a postseason game, won the conference championship and went to the NCAA Tournament.

In making the move to the Rams, Carideo enters a small active female contingency to break into men’s basketball coaching staffs, with the likes of Edniesha Curry of Division I University of Maine and Becky Hammon of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs. At Jefferson, she joins Kay Magee, director of men’s basketball operations.

“There’s a great deal of significance being one of the few female assistants in men’s sports,” says Carideo. “But one of the reasons I decided to make this transition to the men’s side is because I feel it can be the ‘norm’ just as it is with men coaching women. I admire Coach Magee for not looking at me as a female but as a coach qualified for the position.”

Magee, who has 1,096 career wins, knew Carideo from her time as a player and they had kept in touch over the years. When an opening popped up during this preseason, Magee invited her to the early practices.

“She did a terrific job, and the players and coaches took to her right away,” he says, noting her gender played zero role in the hiring. “I wouldn’t have done it for that reason. I did it because I’ve known her for a long time, and after watching her in the workouts with the players, it became clear she would fit right in coaching men. She’s just a terrific young woman who knows the game and can teach. What more do you want if you’re the head coach?”

Last season, Jefferson went 13-6 in conference play during the regular season to grab the No. 2 seed in the CACC South. After winning the CACC Tournament, the Rams earned the No. 8 seed in the NCAA East Region Tournament where they lost to No. 1-seeded Le Moyne. This marked the 36th NCAA appearance for the program and No. 30 for Magee. The team landed at No. 1 in the CACC South Division Preseason Coaches Poll this season.

Junior small forward/center Josh Bradanese said Carideo is usually the first person to give him a pep talk if he misses a few shots during practice.

“She’s a ball of energy,” says Bradanese, an accounting student. “If I get down on myself, she will come right up and tell me, ‘You’re a good shooter. Don’t stop. Don’t get down on yourself.’ Coach Steph is just a big help with my gameplay.”