Stephanie Anderson enters her sixth season as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Fairmont State University. Anderson was named the seventh head coach in program history on May 3, 2019. She took over the program following five years as an assistant coach for the Falcons.
In the 2023-24 season, the Falcons program continued to grow as they claimed for the first time in its history to win the regular season and conference tournament titles as they achieved a 27-6 overall record while going 16-4 in MEC play. Three members of the team were named All-MEC as Katy Darnell and Alyssa DeAngelo were First Team Selections with Jalen Gibbs being named Second Team. Alyssa DeAngelo, Jalen Gibbs and Leslie Huffman received All-Tournament honors as DeAngelo was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player. DeAngelo garnered D2CCA All-Atlantic Region First Team accolades and named WBCA All-American Honorable Mention.
Anderson took the women's basketball program to new heights in the 2022-23 season when Fairmont State tallied the highest number of victories (23) since the 2014-15 season. Under Anderson's coaching, Fairmont State ranked seventh in the nation in scoring offense (79.3 points per game) and second in the country in free throws made per game (17.91 made free throws per game). Two of Anderson's players were named to All-MEC teams including Alyssa DeAngelo (All-MEC First Team) and Katy Darnell (All-MEC Second Team). DeAngelo was also placed on the 2023 D2CCA All-Atlantic Team as a second team selection. DeAngelo garnered All-MEC Tournament Team accolades while Darnell received the Commissioner's Heart and Hustle Award after the Falcons recorded a semifinal appearance at the conference tournament.
During the 2021-22 season, Anderson guided the program to record of 15-13 with 13 victories coming in Mountain East Conference play. Anderson also saw Sierra Kotchman and Alyssa DeAngelo earn All-MEC First Team honors. Kotchman was also named to the Division II CoSIDA Academic All-America first team and garnered D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors.
During the COVID-shortened season in the winter and spring of 2021, Anderson led the Falcons to a 7-10 record. Standout Sierra Kotchman earned first team All-MEC honors for the third-consecutive season, and newcomer Alyssa DeAngelo was named the MEC Freshman of the Year.
Kotchman also added academic honors as the Division II CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year for the sport of women's basketball.
During her first season leading the program, Anderson led the Falcons to a 15-14 overall record and the No. 6 seed in the Mountain East Conference Tournament. Fairmont State had two players earn All-MEC honors following the season, including first team selection Sierra Kotchman, and second team honoree Rachel Laskody.
In her five seasons as lead assistant coach for the Falcons, Anderson coached 12 all-conference players, eight 1,000 point scorers and helped Fairmont State advance to the Mountain East Conference Tournament semifinals in three of the last four years. The Falcons advanced to the MEC Tournament Championship Game in 2017.
The Falcons had a record of 90-61 during Anderson's five seasons as assistant coach.
"We are thrilled that Stephanie will remain a part of the Falcon Family as our head women's basketball coach," said Dr. Mirta M. Martin President at Fairmont State University. "Stephanie will be a great leader for the student athletes in our women's basketball program and will recruit high quality students to our great institution for years to come. We can't wait to see our women's basketball program soar for years to come under Stephanie's leadership."
Anderson arrived at Fairmont State after a successful playing career at California University of Pennsylvania and a three-year stint coaching the Morgantown Mavs AAU team.
"First I would like to thank the city of Fairmont, President Martin, and the entire athletic department for the opportunity to lead this great program," said Anderson. "I would also like to thank Coach McDonald for giving me the opportunity to coach Division II basketball five years ago.
"Fairmont is a wonderful place and I couldn't be happier to start my head coaching career here. I am extremely excited to bring a new direction and change to the women's basketball program moving forward," Anderson added.
"I am also so appreciative of the Fairmont community and all of their support for the program. I look forward to continue building relationships and working with them in the future," Anderson said.
As a player at Cal U, Anderson made 82 starts and helped lead the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances during her career. She was also a four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and was named to the Cal U Athletic Director Honor Roll four times.
Anderson led the Vulcans to the Atlantic Regional finals ("Sweet 16") in 2013 after averaging 20 points and knocking down 50 percent of her three-point attempts in the NCAA tournament. For her efforts, she was named to the Atlantic Regional All-Tournament team. She was also named first team All-PSAC West after leading the team in scoring and finishing second in the conference with 76 threes during her senior season.
Anderson was voted team captain for the Vulcans from her sophomore to senior season.
Cal U honored Anderson in 2019 as she was voted the Alumna of the Year by the department of athletics.
Prior to playing at Cal, Anderson was a three-year standout on the basketball team at Morgantown High School. She won a state championship during her sophomore year in 2007 and earned all-conference, all-state, and state player of the year honors in 2009 following her senior season.
She was named the State Tournament MVP following Morgantown's run to the state championship in 2007.
Anderson received a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology from California University of Pennsylvania in 2013. She continued her education by obtaining a Master's of Science degree in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention in 2015 from Cal U.
Stephanie and her husband Tyler Anderson were married during the summer of 2017. The couple now has two children, son Noah (3) and newborn daughter Skye Raelynn.
| Year |
School |
Overall |
Conf. |
Notes |
| 2019-20 |
Fairmont State |
15-14 |
12-10 |
|
| 2020-21 |
Fairmont State |
7-10 |
7-9 |
|
| 2021-22 |
Fairmont State |
15-13 |
13-9 |
|
| 2022-23 |
Fairmont State |
23-9 |
16-6 |
|
| 2023-24 |
Fairmont State |
27-6 |
16-4 |
MEC Regular Season and Tournament Champions |
| Record (at FSU) |
|
87-52 (.626) |
64-38 (.627) |
|
| Career Record |
|
87-52 (.626) |
64-38 (.627) |
