NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., October 31, 2017 – Monroe College, home of the NJCAA Division I Monroe Mustangs athletics program, announced last Thursday the appointment of Stacey Townsend to lead the Monroe College women's basketball team as head coach. Townsend joins Monroe from Essex County College, where she was the head coach of the women's basketball program.
 
Essex started on a 9-0 run and finished with an overall record of 28-7 under Townsend last season, going on to win the regular season conference title, GSAC Conference crown and District N Championship. The Wolverines also earned the No. 13 seed for the National Tournament.
 
After finishing 2-2 at the national tournament, Essex finished the year ranked No. 6 in the country and Coach Townsend was named District N Coach of the Year.
 
Townsend coached three All-Conference players, one All-National Tournament Team honoree and one All-American. All four graduating sophomores went on to continue their careers competing at NCAA schools.
 
"I am thankful to the institution, Mr. Melendez and Ms. Rayford for having full confidence in my abilities as a coach, but more importantly as a mentor to the young women on the team," said Townsend. "I am excited to work with these young ladies and look forward to pushing them to new heights and getting after things on the court.
 
"There will be a period of adjustment during this transition and our ultimate goal is to remain open to the changes that are taking place," said Townsend. "We will lean on one another a lot during this time with an understanding that we will get further together. In it all, I look forward to our growth together.
 
Prior to coaching at Essex County College, Coach Townsend was an assistant coach at her alma mater Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., where she coached the freshman team.
 
Townsend began coaching AAU when she finished her playing career at Seton Hall University in 2002 where she was a 2-year starter and a 4-year letter winner.
 
Townsend is a native of South Orange, N.J. and currently resides in Newark, N.J. with her son, Joseph.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).