Many teams are starting the season fresh, welcoming new coaches and new perspectives for the academic year. Meet two of the new members to the NYU sports community.
1. Rita Welsh Costigan
Costigan has joined the NYU Violets women’s volleyball staff as an assistant coach. She was an assistant coach for the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Division I La Salle University.
She said she was excited to join the coaching staff at NYU and expects to have a great season.
“I think that the coaching staff is very diverse in volleyball experience, and I cannot wait to share ideas and learn from them,” Costigan said. “We are very young but have a lot of potential and have already shown much improvement over the pre-season. I think this season will unfold to be very exciting.”
Women’s volleyball began its season Aug. 31 and has a record of 12-7 so far.
Junior captain Alex Mao said Costigan gives the team great advice on attitude and demeanor on the court.
“She’s given so much advice to our middles as she used to be one,”
Mao said.
2. Lauren Hall-Gregory
The NYU women’s basketball team is returning with an entirely new coaching staff this year, with Lauren Hall-Gregory as head coach.
Hall-Gregory was previously the recruiting coordinator and first assistant coach of the women’s basketball team for four years at Sacred Heart University. During her undergraduate career at Hofstra University, Hall-Gregory was a three-year starter and captain for the Pride.
“I’m thrilled to be here at NYU, an opportunity I feel I’m ready for and grateful to have,” Hall-Gregory said. “NYU has everything it needs to be a success again [in women’s basketball] expectations, resources, and academic prestige.”
“An advantage of having a young team is that their enthusiasm is contagious,” Hall-Gregory added.
The women’s basketball team will also have an adjustment because five players graduated last year.
Sophomore Jules O’Connor, who is a returning member, said this year will be important in revitalizing the team.
“I think that this season is going to be a vital year in rebuilding this program and bringing it back to the competitive level it once was,” O’Connor said. “To be a part of it is a huge challenge; however I believe that this group of girls and coaches are exactly what we need to start this process.”
Women’s basketball will play their first game Nov. 16.
A version of this article appeared in the Oct. 3 print edition. Mary Jane Dumankaya is deputy sports editor. Email her at [email protected].