Canisius names Penn State assistant Tiffany Swoffard as women's basketball coach (2024)

Canisius University is hiring Tiffany Swoffard as its new women’s basketball coach.

Canisius announced the hire Wednesday morning, and Swoffard takes over a program that recorded its first winning season since 2008-09 and reached the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals in March.

Swoffard replaces Sahar Nusseibeh, who became coach at Eastern Michigan on March 28, after three seasons at Canisius.

The university and the athletic department will formally introduce Swoffard as its new women's basketball coach at noon April 24 at Koessler Athletic Center.

"I chose to become a college coach with the belief that I can add value to young women’s lives through the game of basketball," Swoffard said in a statement from the Canisius athletic department. "I am passionate about people, academic excellence, service to the local community and winning. I will work tirelessly to elevate the Canisius program and I cannot wait to get started.”

Swoffard only spent one season on Carolyn Kieger's coaching staff at Penn State, but helped the Nittany Lions to their first 20-win season since 2016-17. Penn State finished 22-13 -- including a 15-4 home record -- and 9-9 in the Big Ten Conference, and reached the semifinals of the WBIT.

At Penn State, Swoffard worked with the Nittany Lions' post players, but has worked in coaching for more than 20 years, including four seasons (2019-23) at Miami (Ohio), where she was an assistant, an offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator who was on staff with Nusseibeh.

Swoffard has also coached at Toledo, Mercer and Arkansas-Fort Smith. A Chattanooga, Tenn., native, she was a guard at Austin Peay from 1998-2002 and helped the Governors reach the 2001 and 2002 NCAA Tournaments. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business administration from Rowan University in New Jersey.

“Tiffany has spent 19 years preparing to be a head coach and she shared a compelling vision to continue the ascent of our women’s basketball program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference," Canisius athletic director Bill Maher said in an athletic department statement. " I am thrilled that her first head coaching opportunity will come at Canisius, and I look forward to working with her to reach our championship goals.”

Canisius did not disclose the length of Swoffard's contract or the salary terms, but a job posting for the opening on Canisius' website listed the annual salary range as $120,000-$145,000.

It's unclear if the current women's basketball coaching staff will be retained; Canisius also lists openings for three assistant coaches.

Swoffard is the second basketball coach Canisius has hired in the last two weeks; Canisius introduced Jim Christian as the Golden Griffins’ new men’s basketball coach on April 10.

This has been the first time I’ve ever had to run two head-coaching searches somewhat concurrently," Maher told The News last week. "It’s been a learning experience and I’ve had to rely on a number of my staff members that we’ve been able to work our way through it, but it’s been good. When you test people or you have to rely on people, you find out just what their capabilities are and you’re always pleased when they can answer the bell."

Swoffard takes over a program that went 17-14 and 11-9 in the MAAC this season. Like Christian, she faces an immediate task: restock the Griffs’ roster. At least seven players from the 2023-24 team entered the transfer portal after Nussebeih's departure, including sophom*ore forward Sisi Eleko and junior guard Athina Lexa.

Eleko, a unanimous All-MAAC first team selection, announced last week she will transfer to Eastern Michigan. Eleko averaged 15.9 points and 10.6 rebounds this season. Lexa, the MAAC’s sixth player of the year, averaged 11.7 points and 3.3 rebounds, and had 56 assists and 20 steals.