Savage Completes W. Basketball Staff With Hiring of Three Assistants
7/23/2010 11:22:52 AM | General, Women's Basketball
Gavin McFarlin -- Assistant SID
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Davidson's newly hired head women's basketball coach Michele Savage announced today the completion of her coaching staff with the hiring of assistants Mary Ciuk, Jamie Thomatis, and Kira Mowen for the 210-11 season.
“I'm thrilled about having Mary, Jamie and Kira join my staff,” said Savage. “I feel with the hiring of these three coaches, I was able to get a combination of experience and youth which will greatly benefit the program and players.”
Ciuk comes to Davidson after spending the last eight seasons as part of the Massachusetts staff, with the last four years holding the title of Associate Head Coach. Ciuk's primary responsibilities at UMass included scouting of opponents and coordinating the recruiting efforts. She will be the recruiting coordinator at Davidson, while also overseeing the academic aspects of the team and perimeter player development.
Prior to her time at UMass, Ciuk was at Cornell were she helped the Big Red to their first two winning seasons in the Ivy League with 8-6 records in 2001 and 2002. There, she helped cultivate 10 all-league players, two academic All-Ivy picks, one Ivy League Rookie of the Year and four Ivy All-Rookie team selections.
For 11 seasons, Ciuk was an assistant coach at Northwestern, where she helped guide the Wildcats to four NCAA Tournament appearances, the Big Ten championship in 1990 and a 189-122 record. During the summer of 1993, she served as an assistant coach for the Big Ten All-Star team that toured through Australia and New Zealand. As Northwestern's recruiting coordinator, Ciuk assembled five recruiting classes that were ranked in the top-10 nationally. One of those classes included Savage as Ciuk coached her during her playing career at Northwestern.
A 1980 graduate of Southern Connecticut State, Ciuk earned a bachelor of science degree in Physical Education and played four years on the basketball team. The Owls posted a 57-28 mark and qualified for three AIAW national tournaments during Ciuk's playing career.
Following graduation, Ciuk was an assistant basketball coach at the University of Florida while earning a master's degree in Athletic Administration.
Thomatis, who will handle some of the recruiting with Ciuk along with game scheduling, travel and working with the post players, comes to Davidson after a two-year stint as an assistant coach for Kellie Kennedy at Loyola University New Orleans where she helped the Wolfpack compile a 42-18 overall record. Last year saw the Wolfpack go 19-11 and 12-6 in conference play. Two seasons ago, Thomatis was part of assisting Loyola to a 23-7 record and a spot in the NAIA National Championship Tournament after recording a 16-2 conference mark and winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.
In her two years with the Wolfpack, Thomatis was in charge scheduling, recruiting, post develpment, travel and summer camps. She also helped develop scouting reports and aided assistants during practice along with game planning.
Before her stint at Loyola, Thomatis spent three years at her alma mater, Ursuline Academy from 2005-07.
A native of the New Orleans area, Thomatis played four seasons at Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Raiders made two appearances in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) during her time with MTSU. She finished her career in Murfreesboro as MTSU's second all-time leading scorer with 1,971 points. Thomatis was an All-Sun Belt selection in 2001 and 2002. She made the All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) team in 2000 and was selected to the OVC All Freshman team in 1999. During her junior season, Thomatis was 12th in scoring in NCAA Division I women's basketball with 21.3 points per game. She graduated from MTSU in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in health education.
Beginning her first full-time assistant gig is Mowen, who was a graduate assisant for the Texas State women's basketball team the last two years. Her main responsibilities will include film exchange and breakdown, as well as working with the perimeter players. Mowen will also help coordinate conditioning with the strength and training coaches.
Mowen came to San Marcos, Texas after graduating from Youngstown State in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. While at YSU, Mowen played two seasons for head coach Cindy Martin and helped the Penguins to 21 wins while on the team. Prior to her career at Youngstown, Mowen spent the 2003-05 seasons with the Fighting Illini under head coach Theresa Grentz.
A Pennsylvania native, Mowen earned a masters of education with a specialization sports manangement at Texas State in 2010.
“I'm thrilled about having Mary, Jamie and Kira join my staff,” said Savage. “I feel with the hiring of these three coaches, I was able to get a combination of experience and youth which will greatly benefit the program and players.”
Ciuk comes to Davidson after spending the last eight seasons as part of the Massachusetts staff, with the last four years holding the title of Associate Head Coach. Ciuk's primary responsibilities at UMass included scouting of opponents and coordinating the recruiting efforts. She will be the recruiting coordinator at Davidson, while also overseeing the academic aspects of the team and perimeter player development.
Prior to her time at UMass, Ciuk was at Cornell were she helped the Big Red to their first two winning seasons in the Ivy League with 8-6 records in 2001 and 2002. There, she helped cultivate 10 all-league players, two academic All-Ivy picks, one Ivy League Rookie of the Year and four Ivy All-Rookie team selections.
For 11 seasons, Ciuk was an assistant coach at Northwestern, where she helped guide the Wildcats to four NCAA Tournament appearances, the Big Ten championship in 1990 and a 189-122 record. During the summer of 1993, she served as an assistant coach for the Big Ten All-Star team that toured through Australia and New Zealand. As Northwestern's recruiting coordinator, Ciuk assembled five recruiting classes that were ranked in the top-10 nationally. One of those classes included Savage as Ciuk coached her during her playing career at Northwestern.
A 1980 graduate of Southern Connecticut State, Ciuk earned a bachelor of science degree in Physical Education and played four years on the basketball team. The Owls posted a 57-28 mark and qualified for three AIAW national tournaments during Ciuk's playing career.
Following graduation, Ciuk was an assistant basketball coach at the University of Florida while earning a master's degree in Athletic Administration.
Thomatis, who will handle some of the recruiting with Ciuk along with game scheduling, travel and working with the post players, comes to Davidson after a two-year stint as an assistant coach for Kellie Kennedy at Loyola University New Orleans where she helped the Wolfpack compile a 42-18 overall record. Last year saw the Wolfpack go 19-11 and 12-6 in conference play. Two seasons ago, Thomatis was part of assisting Loyola to a 23-7 record and a spot in the NAIA National Championship Tournament after recording a 16-2 conference mark and winning the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament.
In her two years with the Wolfpack, Thomatis was in charge scheduling, recruiting, post develpment, travel and summer camps. She also helped develop scouting reports and aided assistants during practice along with game planning.
Before her stint at Loyola, Thomatis spent three years at her alma mater, Ursuline Academy from 2005-07.
A native of the New Orleans area, Thomatis played four seasons at Middle Tennessee State. The Lady Raiders made two appearances in the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) during her time with MTSU. She finished her career in Murfreesboro as MTSU's second all-time leading scorer with 1,971 points. Thomatis was an All-Sun Belt selection in 2001 and 2002. She made the All-Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) team in 2000 and was selected to the OVC All Freshman team in 1999. During her junior season, Thomatis was 12th in scoring in NCAA Division I women's basketball with 21.3 points per game. She graduated from MTSU in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in health education.
Beginning her first full-time assistant gig is Mowen, who was a graduate assisant for the Texas State women's basketball team the last two years. Her main responsibilities will include film exchange and breakdown, as well as working with the perimeter players. Mowen will also help coordinate conditioning with the strength and training coaches.
Mowen came to San Marcos, Texas after graduating from Youngstown State in 2008 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. While at YSU, Mowen played two seasons for head coach Cindy Martin and helped the Penguins to 21 wins while on the team. Prior to her career at Youngstown, Mowen spent the 2003-05 seasons with the Fighting Illini under head coach Theresa Grentz.
A Pennsylvania native, Mowen earned a masters of education with a specialization sports manangement at Texas State in 2010.
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