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Quincy Cunningham, Steven Asher, Jazmyne Geist, Shayla Sellers, Zane Draper
Maria Marchesano Announces 2024-25 Coaching Staff Updates
7/1/2024 11:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball head coach Maria Marchesano announced updates to her coaching staff for 2024-25 on Monday (July 1). Steven Asher has been promoted to Associate Head Coach, Jazmyne Geist and Quincy Cunningham have been elevated to the second and third assistants, respectively, Shayla Sellers joins the staff as the fourth assistant and Zane Draper joins as the Director of Basketball Operations.
Asher's promotion to Associate Head Coach comes on the heels of the best Division I season in program history. The Mastodons went 23-13 and 13-7 in the Horizon League, both program-bests since moving Division I in 2001. Asher has been on Marchesano's staff since her first year in her home city, the 2021-22 season. Asher has been an assistant coach for two Women's National Invitational Tournament teams, including the 2023-24 Mastodons, which advanced to the Super 16. Asher's primary responsibilities over the last three years have been related to the defense and scouting, which was at its best in 2023-24. The 'Dons allowed opponents to shoot just 40.7 percent from the floor and 28.2 percent from 3-point range, the latter of which was a top-40 mark nationally.
"I am excited to be able to promote Coach Asher to Associate Head Coach," Marchesano said. "He has had a tremendous impact on the rebuild of our program and we wouldn't be where we are today without his contributions and passion to help our players develop. He's an efficient and tireless worker who has his hands in every aspect of our program. He definitely deserves this promotion and I am excited to continue to build with him!"
Geist joined Marchesano's staff prior to the 2021-22 season as a graduate assistant coach and was then promoted to a full-time assistant coach role prior to 2022-23. She has been the recruiting coordinator and primary coach for the post players, as was her role as a player at Northern Kentucky. The Homestead High School graduate led post players Jazzlyn Linbo and Sydney Graber to combine shoot 50.2 percent from the floor last season.
Cunningham joined the staff as a graduate assistant coach prior to 2022-23 and was elevated to the full-time role a season later. In his two seasons with the 'Dons, he has been responsible for video and analytics efforts, stemming from his time as a Player Development Assistant at Maryland. He assisted in the 14-win improvement from the year before his arrival to his most recent season.
"With our second assistant spot opening, it absolutely made sense to promote Coach Jaz into that number two slot and Coach Q into that number three slot," Marchesano said. "Coach Jaz has done a great job as our recruiting coordinator and working with our post players. She's also in charge of our compliance efforts and does a phenomenal job of keeping us all in line. Coach Q has grown so much in his time with the 'Dons and continues to leave his mark on this program. He spends the most time in the gym with our girls and manages all of our video and analytic tasks. Coach Q has an elite basketball mind and I'm very excited for him to get the opportunity to move up!"
Sellers spent the last five years as a member of the Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball team. She has played in more games in a Mastodon uniform than anyone else. She ranks in the top-10 in the program's career record book in points (1,332), 3-point field goals made (213), free throw percentage (.807), rebounds (573), blocks (99) and steals (226). Sellers led the Mastodons on the court for five seasons, leading an 18-win improvement from her freshman year to graduate year.
"Our newest hire should need no introduction to the Mastodon community," Marchesano said. "Moving on to the bench as an assistant coach will be Mastodon great, Shayla Sellers. Shay is a phenomenal person inside and out, but her knowledge of our program and systems will be so valuable to our group, especially in a year where we have 9 newcomers. I am so excited to have Shay back with the squad for the upcoming season!"
Draper comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after spending time as a player at Muskegon Community College and Rochester Christian University. In his two seasons at Rochester Christian, he played in 17 games for the Warriors and shot 52.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.
"The last addition is our newest graduate assistant, Zane Draper," Marchesano said. "Zane is a recently graduate who played small college basketball and has an extreme passion for hoops. He will help out with many areas including player development, video editing, and internal and external operations."
The Mastodon women's basketball team will open the season in November, looking to improve upon the best season in the Division I history of the program. The 2023-24 Mastodons went 23-13 and advanced to the WNIT Super 16.
Asher's promotion to Associate Head Coach comes on the heels of the best Division I season in program history. The Mastodons went 23-13 and 13-7 in the Horizon League, both program-bests since moving Division I in 2001. Asher has been on Marchesano's staff since her first year in her home city, the 2021-22 season. Asher has been an assistant coach for two Women's National Invitational Tournament teams, including the 2023-24 Mastodons, which advanced to the Super 16. Asher's primary responsibilities over the last three years have been related to the defense and scouting, which was at its best in 2023-24. The 'Dons allowed opponents to shoot just 40.7 percent from the floor and 28.2 percent from 3-point range, the latter of which was a top-40 mark nationally.
"I am excited to be able to promote Coach Asher to Associate Head Coach," Marchesano said. "He has had a tremendous impact on the rebuild of our program and we wouldn't be where we are today without his contributions and passion to help our players develop. He's an efficient and tireless worker who has his hands in every aspect of our program. He definitely deserves this promotion and I am excited to continue to build with him!"
Geist joined Marchesano's staff prior to the 2021-22 season as a graduate assistant coach and was then promoted to a full-time assistant coach role prior to 2022-23. She has been the recruiting coordinator and primary coach for the post players, as was her role as a player at Northern Kentucky. The Homestead High School graduate led post players Jazzlyn Linbo and Sydney Graber to combine shoot 50.2 percent from the floor last season.
Cunningham joined the staff as a graduate assistant coach prior to 2022-23 and was elevated to the full-time role a season later. In his two seasons with the 'Dons, he has been responsible for video and analytics efforts, stemming from his time as a Player Development Assistant at Maryland. He assisted in the 14-win improvement from the year before his arrival to his most recent season.
"With our second assistant spot opening, it absolutely made sense to promote Coach Jaz into that number two slot and Coach Q into that number three slot," Marchesano said. "Coach Jaz has done a great job as our recruiting coordinator and working with our post players. She's also in charge of our compliance efforts and does a phenomenal job of keeping us all in line. Coach Q has grown so much in his time with the 'Dons and continues to leave his mark on this program. He spends the most time in the gym with our girls and manages all of our video and analytic tasks. Coach Q has an elite basketball mind and I'm very excited for him to get the opportunity to move up!"
Sellers spent the last five years as a member of the Purdue Fort Wayne women's basketball team. She has played in more games in a Mastodon uniform than anyone else. She ranks in the top-10 in the program's career record book in points (1,332), 3-point field goals made (213), free throw percentage (.807), rebounds (573), blocks (99) and steals (226). Sellers led the Mastodons on the court for five seasons, leading an 18-win improvement from her freshman year to graduate year.
"Our newest hire should need no introduction to the Mastodon community," Marchesano said. "Moving on to the bench as an assistant coach will be Mastodon great, Shayla Sellers. Shay is a phenomenal person inside and out, but her knowledge of our program and systems will be so valuable to our group, especially in a year where we have 9 newcomers. I am so excited to have Shay back with the squad for the upcoming season!"
Draper comes to Purdue Fort Wayne after spending time as a player at Muskegon Community College and Rochester Christian University. In his two seasons at Rochester Christian, he played in 17 games for the Warriors and shot 52.2 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.
"The last addition is our newest graduate assistant, Zane Draper," Marchesano said. "Zane is a recently graduate who played small college basketball and has an extreme passion for hoops. He will help out with many areas including player development, video editing, and internal and external operations."
The Mastodon women's basketball team will open the season in November, looking to improve upon the best season in the Division I history of the program. The 2023-24 Mastodons went 23-13 and advanced to the WNIT Super 16.
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