Temple University Athletics
STEFANIE SCALESSA NAMED HEAD MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK COACH
9.8.04 | Men's Track and Field
"Stefanie is the perfect person to lead our track programs," stated Temple University Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw. "She brings to Temple a tremendous background, both as a collegiate coach and student-athlete. Under her direction, I feel that we can take both programs to another level."
At Monmouth, Scalessa helped the Hawks capture two women's and one men's Northeast Conference Championship. In her role as associate head coach, she was responsible for tutoring Monmouth's sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers, as well as coordinating the program's recruiting efforts.
Prior to her time at Monmouth, Scalessa served two years as an assistant men's and women's track coach at the University of Delaware. At UD, she was responsible for the development of the Blue Hens' hurdlers, jumpers and sprinters. During Delaware's first year participating in the Colonial Athletic Association (2000-01), 10 of the 13 jumpers and hurdlers scored at the league meet. Scalessa was also instrumental in the development of Delaware's men's and women's multi-event athletes.
Scalessa began her coaching career as the head indoor track & field coach and assistant outdoor track and field coach at Ursuline (Del.) Academy in 1994. In her first season, she guided Ursuline to second place at the state indoor meet. During her six-year tenure at the Wilmington school, she helped lead the squad to six consecutive Delaware State Outdoor titles. Numerous student-athletes under her guidance went on to receive Division I scholarships.
A 1990 graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, Scalessa was a four-year member of the Wildcat track & field program where she competed under legendary coach Marty Stern. A sprinter, she scored points for the Wildcats as the leadoff runner on the 400-meter relay squad and in the 400-meter hurdles at the Big East and ECAC Championships.
The 35-year-old Wilmington, Del. native, who owns a Master's of Education degree in Counseling Psychology ('92) from Temple, has been very active off the track as well. From 1992 to 1997, she served as a psychotherapist for The Lihn Center for Psychology in Havertown, Pa. For the past 10 years, Scalessa has also served as owner and operator of "Samiches", an eatery and candy store in Stone Harbor, N.J. She also founded The Next Step, a program which focused on empowering young women by coupling them with local businesswomen and having them mentored on issues relating to career and college options.
