Women’s Basketball Completes Staff with Two Additions
7/15/2024 12:37:00 PM | Women's Basketball
WASHINGTON – Head Coach Caroline McCombs and the George Washington women's basketball program announced the addition of two new staff members ahead of the 2024-25 season. Doug Novak (Assistant Coach) and Sydney Avoletta (Graduate Assistant) round out the Revolutionaries' coaching staff for the upcoming campaign.
Doug Novak, Assistant Coach
Novak, a 1990 graduate of Tennessee, arrives in Foggy Bottom after spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant with the Northern Kentucky women's basketball program. Prior to his time with the Norse, Novak was the Associate Head Coach for Army's men's basketball program during the 2022-23 campaign. Under Novak's guidance, the Black Knights collected 17 wins, the second-most since the 1978-79 season, while registering the third-most conference wins (10) since joining the Patriot League in 1990.
Before his time in West Point, Novak guided the Mississippi State women's basketball program as the Interim Head Coach for the 2021-22 season. Novak's squad was named the NCAA Team of the Week twice during the regular season and he left with the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
The bulk of Novak's head coaching experience came during his eight-year stint with Bethel's men's basketball program. Novak accumulated a record of 131-68 over that span, finishing with the highest winning percentage (.658) of any coach in the program's history. Novak also led the Royals to a record 11 consecutive victories during the 2019-20 season, while also leading the team to its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. During that same 2016-17 season, the program also captured a share of its first regular season conference championship and the second conference tournament crown. Over the course of his tenure with Bethel, Novak developed 15 MIAC All-Conference selections.
Prior to coaching, Novak was part of Tennessee's men's tennis program from 1987-90. During his collegiate career, Novak and the Volunteers spent time as the No. 1 ranked program in the nation and finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1990. After his playing days, Novak spent a short stint as an assistant tennis coach at Clemson.
Originally from Brandon, S.D., Novak has been married to his wife, Tonya, for 32 years. They have three daughters: Mackenzie, Sarah and Grace.
Sydney Avoletta, Graduate Assistant
Avoletta, a 2024 graduate of North Carolina Central, joins the GW coaching staff as a graduate assistant after a successful four-year collegiate playing career. Avoletta spent the first two seasons of her career with Iona College, appearing in eight total games and earning MAAC All-Academic Team honors as a sophomore.
After transferring to NC Central ahead of her junior year, Avoletta appeared in 50 games for the Eagles, averaging 2.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg across her final two collegiate seasons. Outside of playing, Avoletta was a camp instructor for multiple St. Paul VI women's basketball camps. Within her role she helped plan and execute engaging drills and games for campers, provided instruction on fundamental basketball skills and taught youth the value of teamwork and sportsmanship within the game.
A native of Sterling, Va., Avoletta graduated from NC Central with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in May.
Doug Novak, Assistant Coach
Novak, a 1990 graduate of Tennessee, arrives in Foggy Bottom after spending the 2023-24 season as an assistant with the Northern Kentucky women's basketball program. Prior to his time with the Norse, Novak was the Associate Head Coach for Army's men's basketball program during the 2022-23 campaign. Under Novak's guidance, the Black Knights collected 17 wins, the second-most since the 1978-79 season, while registering the third-most conference wins (10) since joining the Patriot League in 1990.
Before his time in West Point, Novak guided the Mississippi State women's basketball program as the Interim Head Coach for the 2021-22 season. Novak's squad was named the NCAA Team of the Week twice during the regular season and he left with the most wins by a first-year head coach in program history.
The bulk of Novak's head coaching experience came during his eight-year stint with Bethel's men's basketball program. Novak accumulated a record of 131-68 over that span, finishing with the highest winning percentage (.658) of any coach in the program's history. Novak also led the Royals to a record 11 consecutive victories during the 2019-20 season, while also leading the team to its second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. During that same 2016-17 season, the program also captured a share of its first regular season conference championship and the second conference tournament crown. Over the course of his tenure with Bethel, Novak developed 15 MIAC All-Conference selections.
Prior to coaching, Novak was part of Tennessee's men's tennis program from 1987-90. During his collegiate career, Novak and the Volunteers spent time as the No. 1 ranked program in the nation and finished as the NCAA Tournament runner-up in 1990. After his playing days, Novak spent a short stint as an assistant tennis coach at Clemson.
Originally from Brandon, S.D., Novak has been married to his wife, Tonya, for 32 years. They have three daughters: Mackenzie, Sarah and Grace.
Sydney Avoletta, Graduate Assistant
Avoletta, a 2024 graduate of North Carolina Central, joins the GW coaching staff as a graduate assistant after a successful four-year collegiate playing career. Avoletta spent the first two seasons of her career with Iona College, appearing in eight total games and earning MAAC All-Academic Team honors as a sophomore.
After transferring to NC Central ahead of her junior year, Avoletta appeared in 50 games for the Eagles, averaging 2.6 ppg and 2.3 rpg across her final two collegiate seasons. Outside of playing, Avoletta was a camp instructor for multiple St. Paul VI women's basketball camps. Within her role she helped plan and execute engaging drills and games for campers, provided instruction on fundamental basketball skills and taught youth the value of teamwork and sportsmanship within the game.
A native of Sterling, Va., Avoletta graduated from NC Central with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in May.
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