Stephen Sauers returns for his second season with the Gaels in 2009-10 after joining the his staff in Aug. 2008. Sauers serves as an assistant coach and came to New Rochelle after spending two years as the Director of Basketball operations at Seton Hall.
“Stephen’s coaching experience is great asset to our young program,” said Coach Willard. “Having coached and recruited in the Northeast for over 15 years, he adds tremendous value to our program in all areas.”
Sauers joined head coach Bobby Gonzalez’ staff for the 2006-07 season at Seton Hall after a year at the Hoop Group, out of Neptune, N.J. where he woked for Rob Kenney, current MAAC-TV color analyst. He was responsible for the recruitment of high school student-athletes to all company events, and was Director of the Eastern Invitational Camps and Top 100 clinics. Sauers was also the site director for all high school and AAU tournaments.
Sauers’ long background in coaching began at Marist upon his graduation from the University at Albany in 1990. He served under former Red Fox head coach and current Army women’s coach Dave Magarity from 1990-2004. Sauers moved up the ladder during his tenure at Marist, starting as a Graduate Assistant Coach, a full-time Assistant by 1993, Senior Assistant Coach in 1996, and Associate Head Coach in 2001. Marist enjoyed both an NIT appearance in 1996 and a MAAC regular season championship in 2000 during his tenure in Poughkeepsie. Sauers was responsible for recruiting 15 All-MAAC performers at Marist. He was instrumental in signing the core class from the Red Foxes’ 2007 regular season championship team including MAAC Player of the Year and current New Orleans Hornet Jared Jordan and All-MAAC performers Will Whittington and Ryan Stilphen
In 2004-05, Sauers was the head coach at the United States Military Academy Prep School in Fort Monmouth, NJ, leading the team to a a school best, 16-7 record.
In addition to his responsibilities at Marist, Sauers also gained international coaching experience, having coached for the Nigerian National Team as an assistant coach from 1992-96. His father, Richard “Doc” Sauers, was a legendary coach at Albany State from 1956-97, winning over 700 games.
He is a 1990 graduate of Albany, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. While a player at Albany under his father, Sauers was a two-year starter and helped his team to a four-year record of 77-34. He currently ranks No. 4 all-time on the Great Danes’ assist list with 386 and still holds the single-game record for assists with 15.
