New coach, same expectations: Joy McCorvey will oversee strong Stony Brook women's hoops core

It is the dawning of a new era for the Stony Brook women’s basketball team.

There is a new, first-time head coach in Joy McCorvey, who is learning about her players and them about her. It is only natural that there will be learning curves and experimentation and adjustments.

And yet, at its core, everything remains the same. The standard. The expectations, both external and internal.

"We want to continue to win at a high level,” McCorvey said during the Coastal Athletic Association's media day. “We are searching for another championship and that starts with our leaders: Shamarla King, Zaida Gonzalez, Kelis Corley. They’ve done a great job of continuing the culture and the standard of excellence in this program.”

McCorvey replaces Ashley Langford, who coached the Seawolves for three seasons before resigning to become the head coach at Tulane. Stony Brook had winning records in all three of Langford’s seasons at the school, including a 28-5 mark last year.

Enter McCorvey.

The 11th head coach in the program’s history had previously served as an assistant at St. John's, Michigan, Florida State and Tennessee.

What attracted her to Stony Brook?

“From my first conversation with [athletic director] Shawn [Heilbron] and just doing my own research on the history and tradition — not only on the court but the academic reputation of Stony Brook — it was a major attraction,” McCorvey said. “When I got here I was blown away at the resources, the support, not only for women’s basketball but for all sports and the opportunity to continue to win at a high level.”

The Seawolves' 2023-24 season ended with a 79-62 loss to Illinois in the second round of the WBIT. By any measure, a successful season. Which is why McCorvey is not interested in reinventing the wheel. Instead she wants to make some modifications to what is already in place.

“Our identity will definitely be on the defensive end,” McCorvey said. “We are going to defend at a high level. We are going to rebound. And then in return that leads to some transition, an up-tempo style on the offensive end.

"Being able to play free in space and then in the half court, just being able to make sure that we’re getting the right people the right shots. Again, finishing it with rebounding and giving ourselves second-chance opportunities.”

To hear Gonzalez, the transition has been going well.

“We’ve been really excited to adjust to a new coaching staff,” the senior guard said. “Have the ability to make new relationships with our coaches. I think we’ve stayed together as a team and faced it head on and just loved the process so far.”

In part because for the returnees, roles have changed. Take Gonzalez, who averaged 8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 22.4 minutes per game last season. She has new responsibilities now, both on and off the court.

“It’s been super exciting,” Gonzalez said. “I know that I have a different role this year. A leadership role. And that’s something that I’ve embraced and I’ve been very excited for. I mean I put in a lot of work for this so I continue to put the work in. The work will show, for sure.”