NEW ROCHELLE, NY— Iona University women's basketball head coach Angelika Szumilo announced updates to her coaching staff on Monday. The Gaels welcome Aaron Gratch to the staff as an assistant coach and promote Breyenne Bellerand to Director of Operations.

Gratch comes to New Rochelle after spending the last six seasons on the NJIT women's basketball coaching staff as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator.
 
The Highlanders won 40 games in the last three seasons, the best three-year stretch in the program's 18 years at the Division I level. The team appeared in three America East quarterfinal matchups and made a run to the semifinals in 2021-22.
 
He joined NJIT in 2018 after two successful stints as the varsity girls' basketball coach at Gill St. Bernard's in Gladstone, New Jersey. His last stint with the Knights saw the team reach the Somerset County Tournament final in 2016-17 and finish the 2017-18 season ranked 18th in the state. In total he spent seven seasons at Gill St. Bernard in including five seasons as a head coach from 2015-2018 and 2010-2012 posting a combined record of 116-52.

Bellerand joined the Maroon & Gold in May of 2023 and served as the video coordinator for the program this past season, managing all video-related activities for the program and assisted with scouting, student-manager hires and on-campus recruiting efforts.
 
Prior to coming to New Rochelle, Bellerand worked as the Director of Player Personnel and Student-Athlete Engagement at FDU. With the Knights, Bellerand was responsible for compiling scouting reports on opponents, developing practice routines, coordinating study hall sessions and serving as a liaison between student-athletes and professors.
 
The 2024-25 season begins on Tuesday, November 5 with a 7:00 p.m. matchup at UCF. Iona's home opener at the Hynes Center will be Tuesday, November 12 for Kids Day against Navy.