HACKENSACK, N.J. - First-year FDU women's basketball head coach Stephanie Gaitley welcomed a pair of familiar faces to the Knights' staff as Jessica Simmonds and Madison Stanley rejoin the Knights. Previously an assistant for former head coach Angelika Szumilo, Simmonds returns to FDU as Associate Head Coach/Recruiting coordinator after a one-year stint at VCU. One of the program's all-time greats as a student-athlete, Stanley returns to FDU after wrapping up her playing career in 2022 and a season on Charleston's coaching staff.

The Orange, N.J. native Simmonds comes back to FDU after a successful first stint with the Burgundy and Blue, culminating in the program winning the Northeast Conference regular season title and earning the program's first-ever trip to the WNIT. A former collegiate student-athlete, Simmonds' career was split between Providence (2001-03) and George Washington (2004-06). She combined to play in 116 games (110 starts) while totaling 1,279 points, 796 rebounds, 211 steals and 117 blocks. She was a Big East All-Rookie Team selection as a freshman at Providence and she earned two All-A-10 honors at George Washington, including a First Team All-Conference nod as a senior. The Colonials won the A-10 regular season title and earned two NCAA tournament victories in her two years playing with the team.

In the coaches box, Simmonds began her career as a volunteer assistant at Hampton before stops at Chesapeake and Siena, followed by her first stint on the banks of the Hackensack. With Simmonds on the sidelines, Siena placed among the top four teams in the MAAC in two of her three seasons, including a third-place finish in 2017-18 that ended with a trip to the MAAC semifinal for the Saints, the second in four seasons.

With a history of developing post players, Simmonds developed Maddie Sims into a Second Team All-MAAC performer and guided two First Team All-MAAC selections, including the 2016-17 MAAC Defensive Player of the Year. Siena earned 13 MAAC wins in her last season with the Saints, their most since 2003-04. At FDU, Simmonds helped Lauren Francillon earn Second Team All-NEC honors in her senior campaign. She also aided in the development of freshman Maria Roters, who was a member of the NEC All-Rookie Team.

After her playing career, Simmonds played three years professionally in Europe from 2006-09 for three different squads and was also a member of the Jamaican National Team that competed in a pre-Olympic qualifier in the summer of 2007.

'Coach Jess' graduated from George Washington in 2006 with a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice and later earned an associate's degree in nursing from EPCI College of Technology in 2012.

"I ran into Jess at the NEC championship game and she said 'keep me in mind' if you get a job," said Gaitley. "I have always been impressed with Jess and the returning players raved about her. Jess is experienced, personable and extremely positive. She earned the associate head coach title. Combining her playing, coaching and FDU background made her a slam dunk hire."

"I'm excited to return home to my FDU family and finish what we started," said Simmonds. "I am incredibly grateful to Coach Gatiley for the opportunity to return home to FDU as the Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator and continue to raise the presence of FDU women's basketball on the national stage. It's an exciting time to be 'reigKNIGHTed' and ride with the Knights!"

Returning home to the place where she spent five collegiate campaigns, Woodbridge, N.J. native Madison Stanley enters his first season on the sidelines at the Rothman Center in 2023-24. A 2021 graduate from the University with a degree in psychology and a minor in criminal justice, Stanley also matriculated with a master's in sport management in 2022 as she completed her fifth season of eligibility. 

A two-year captain for then-head coach Angelika Szumilo's side, Stanley was named the NEC's Player of the Year in her graduate season, exploding to become a four-time NEC Player of the Week in her final campaign. Tallying 1,094 career points since arriving at FDU in 2017, Stanley also posted 587 rebounds. She was also named a First Team All-NEC honoree in 2020-21.

Knowing she wanted to explore coaching and giving back to student-athletes and college athletics, Stanley was selected as a member of the 2022 class of the WBCA's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program, presented in partnership with WeCOACH. The program, assists female collegiate basketball players who are interested in pursuing a career in coaching women's basketball by providing them with professional development and career advancement through education, skills enhancement, networking and exposure opportunities.

Spending last season on-staff with the Cougars, Stanley assisted in the program's 11-win campaign, including a stretch of four-straight. Two student-athletes went on to earn All-CAA honors in her lone season in Charleston and the team played Monmouth in the 2023 CAA tournament.

"Coach Ang [Szumilo] has always spoken very highly of Madison," commented Gaitley. "I spoke with Madison a few years ago as she was thinking about going into the coaching world. I was impressed with her positive energy and her strong desire to help young women grow both on and off rhe court. She loved her time at FDU. Madison was Player of the Year and a true student-athlete. I am excited to see her develop as a coach as well as have a positive impact on all our future Knights."

"I am thrilled to be back home at FDU and grateful for the opportunity to coach at my alma mater," said Stanley. "I am excited to work alongside Coach Gaitley and the entire staff as we continue to keep FDU women's basketball at the top of the NEC!"

Connect with FDU women's basketball on Twitter and Instagram, @FDUKnightsWBB.