Rowan head women’s basketball coach Gabby Lisella was selected the Russell Athletic Conference/WBCA Region 3 Coach of the Year. In her fourth season at the helm of the Prof program, Lisella guided Rowan to a 21-5 overall record and a 12-1 mark in the NJAC.

The Profs were the top seed in the conference’s Gold Division and received a bye in the first round of the NJAC Championship Tournament.

Lisella’s team improved on a 10-15 record from last year. In five seasons, she has compiled a 61-39 won-lost record at Rowan. The Profs posted a 17-8 record in her first season (2000-01) and finished 13-11 in her second campaign (2001-02). 

Lisella came to Rowan after five years as women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director at SUNY Oswego. Her squad made its first ever trip to the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Championship Tournament in 1999 and set the school record for wins in a season with a 14-11 mark. It was the Lakers’ first winning season in 16 years. Lisella was selected the SUNYAC Coach of the Year. Under Lisella, seven players received SUNYAC All-Conference honors including a school record three selections last season. Her players rewrote the Oswego State record book during her tenure.

Prior to Oswego, Lisella was the head women’s basketball coach at the University of the South (TN) from 1991-95. She was also the assistant coach for softball and soccer and a physical education instructor. In addition, Lisella was the interim head women’s basketball coach at St. Lawrence University (NY) for the 1990-91 season. At St. Lawrence, she also was the head volleyball coach and a physical education instructor.

Lisella was the junior varsity women’s basketball coach and assistant lacrosse coach at Cortland State (NY) from 1989-90. She graduated from East Stroudsburg University with a bachelor’s in health and physical education in 1985 and earned a master’s in physical education from Cortland State in 1994. At East Stroudsburg, Lisella played varsity basketball (1980-84) and volleyball (1983-84). She was captain of the volleyball team and was an All-Conference first team selection.