Laura Stauffer named VASJ women’s varsity basketball head coach

The Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School Athletic Department is excited to announce Laura Stauffer has been named the new VASJ women’s varsity basketball head coach.

Stauffer was previously an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team under head coach Tony Redding from 2013 to 2017 and under head coach Rich Newlon during the 2019-20 academic year. She also coached men’s and women’s throws on the VASJ track and field team from 2013 to 2018.

“I truly enjoyed working with this group of girls last year,” Stauffer said. “We had fun and learned a lot, even though it was a difficult season for the team. I believe the girls deserve some continuity in coaches and game play, so I thought it important to step into the head coaching role. I’m looking forward to continuing to show them what teamwork, effort, dedication and loyalty will do for the team in the long run. This is about more than just the game; it’s about making them better prepared for their next steps in life.” 

A former basketball player at Euclid High School and Gilmour Academy, Stauffer went on to play at Mercyhurst University and Baldwin Wallace University. She served as an assistant coach for women’s basketball at Baldwin Wallace, the College of Wooster and Hathaway Brown as well as a coach for volleyball and boys and girls basketball at St. Paschal Baylon from 2005 to 2014. 

Stauffer has two sons who attended VASJ. Jacob graduated in 2016 and is a 2020 graduate of West Point, while Adam graduated in 2018 and is currently attending Cleveland State University. 

“We are looking forward to having Laura lead our women’s basketball program,” said Elvis Grbac ’88, VASJ athletic director. “She knows the game, she knows the young women on the team, and she knows how to teach, lead and develop them. We cannot wait to see the program grow under her guidance.”

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Volume 11, Issue 7, Posted 4:52 PM, 07.06.2020