Temple University Athletics
Stefanie Scalessa Resigns As Temple Track And Field Coach
6.18.08 | Women's Track and Field
June 18, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University head men's and women's track and field coach Stefanie Scalessa has submitted her resignation to pursue other professional opportunities, director of athletics Bill Bradshaw announced today. Scalessa recently completed her fourth season directing the track and field team and her third season overseeing the recently-reinstated cross country program.
"We wish Stefanie well in her future endeavors," Bradshaw said. "She oversaw a total of six varsity teams with class and has both the cross country and track programs headed in the right direction."
"It has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with so many outstanding student-athletes at Temple for the past four years," Scalessa said. "The administration has been very supportive of the program and it is at the point where it is ready to explode onto the regional and national scene. It was a difficult decision for me, but it is the right time to pursue other opportunities."
The first woman to serve as a head coach for a men's sport in the 113-year history of Temple athletics, Scalessa led the men's indoor and outdoor track teams to their best Atlantic 10 finishes in program history during her tenure. The Owls finished fourth at the 2008 A-10 Indoor Track Championships in February, while the Cherry and White was fifth at the 2007 A-10 Outdoor Track Championship.
On the women's side, Temple posted its best A-10 finish in five years with a fourth place showing at the league's 2008 indoor championship. It was Temple's second-best indoor finish since the Atlantic 10 Championship began in 1997. Scalessa coached a total of 13 conference champions and seven school record holders at Temple.
The Wilmington, DE native was also instrumental in the reinstatement of the varsity cross country program in 2005 after a 20-year hiatus. The men's cross country team had its best-ever finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship in 2007 with an 11th place showing.
The 1990 Villanova graduate spent two years as an associate head coach at Monmouth and two years as an assistant at Delaware. A four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats under legendary coach Marty Stern, Scalessa scored points as the leadoff runner of the 4x400 and in the 400m hurdles at the Big East and ECAC Championships.
Scalessa, who owns a Master's degree from Temple in counseling psychology (1997), is also the owner and operator of "Samiches," an eatery and candy store in Stone Harbor, NJ.
A national search for her replacement will begin immediately.
