Palmateer Introduces Herself to the Monmouth Community

"I believe that championships are right around the corner," new Monmouth University women's basketball coach Jennifer Palmateer told a crowd of coaches, players and members of the community during a press conference on Thursday.

With those words, Palmateer showed that she has lofty expectations for a team that fell on game short of an NCAA Tournament berth last season. With those words, she showed that she is ready to use her extensive coaching and recruiting experience to turn the team into a perennial winner. And she certainly has the talent to do so.

On Wednesday, Palmateer was announced as former head coach Stephanie Gaitley's replacement, after Gaitley requested to be released early from her contract on April 1.

Gaitley will be taking over as the head women's basketball coach at Fordham University for the 2011-12 season.

Gaitley coached the Hawks to a 23-10 season, second place in the Northeast Conference (NEC), and a berth in the WNIT where the team lost to Syracuse. The team also lost to St. Francis (PA) in the NEC Tournament finals, and in turn, lost a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Palmateer takes over a team that just completed one of the most succesful seasons in the history of the university, and she knows they are ready to take the next step.

"I can tell they're hungry," Palmateer said yesterday. "We're going to do great things."

She will have some talented players to work with next year as three of the team's best players will be juniors. Guards Alysha  Womack, Erin Rooney and forward Abby Martin will all be returning next year, along with Alexis Canady, who will be a senior next year. Rooney was not only a talented scorer, but is also the reigning NEC Defensive Player of the Year.

"I'm very happy with the roster," Palmateer said. "I feel like we have a great team coming back."

Palmateer spent 16 years as an assistant basketball coach at Virginia, North Carolina State University and Seton Hall. She served as a recruiting coordinator for Seton Hall last season, where she was responsible for recruiting as well as opponent scouting and game-planning.

She was an assistant coach under three of the NCAA Hall of Fame coaches  Anne Donovan (Seton Hall), who was in attendance during yesterday's press conference, Kay Yow (N.C. State) and Debbie Ryan (Virginia). She said she has learned much from these coaches and will also look to run her own style.

"Each place, I picked up something a little different," she said. "I know I also have to come up with my own philosophy and coaching style."

Palmateer is also bringing one of her former teachers with her, as she convinced her high school basketball coach at South Amboy, Reggie Carney, to come out of retirement and be a part of the staff. Carney was the USA Today High School Girl's Basketball Coach of the Year at Harold G. Hoffman High School in South Amboy during the 1986-87 season.

"You (the players) will learn more in a week about the fundamentals of basketball, than you have probably learned in a year," Palmateer said. "He is one of the best teachers of the game I know."

She said she believes Carney will help her with recruiting as well, and said she believes being a New Jersey native will also be "huge advantage" for her.

"The state is loaded with talent," she said. "I feel like coaches will want to send their kids here."

Time will tell if Palmateer's goal of making the NCAA Tournament will come true, but one thing is sure, she will get the most out of her players and push them to excel. 

"I have a lot of faith in you guys, and I believe that championships are right around the corner," she said.