Stephanie Carideo recently concluded her first year as an assistant coach for the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball program following the 2019-20 campaign.
In her first year with the Quakers, working primarily with the guards, freshman Kayla Padilla was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Ivy while finishing second in the league and sixth nationally among all freshmen in scoring at 17.4 ppg. Padilla was named Ivy League Rookie of the Week six times, in addition to a number of other weekly awards, including U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Freshman of the Week. Also under Carideo, point guard Kendall Grasela led the Ancient Eight in assist/TO ratio and assists per game; the senior ranked seventh nationally in assist/TO ratio.
She also spent some of the year working with the post players, helping guide Eleah Parker to her second consecutive Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year award and first-team All-Ivy honors. Parker, in Ivy play, led the league in rebounding and blocks, moving into third in program history with 233 career blocks, in addition to becoming the 23rd Quaker to join the 1,000-point club.
Carideo joined the Quakers following a year as an assistant coach with the men's basketball program at Jefferson University. There, she was one of only two female coaches working with a men's program throughout all levels of NCAA basketball. Working under Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Head Coach Herb Magee, Carideo helped lead the Rams to the Central Athletic Collegiate Conference regular season championship earlier this year.
"I'm beyond thrilled to be joining the University of Pennsylvania family," said Carideo. "Penn is an amazing university with a tradition of both athletic and academic excellence, and I am eager to start a new journey here. I have an incredible amount of respect for Coach McLaughlin, his staff and the University of Pennsylvania women's basketball program. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work alongside such a successful and passionate group of coaches and players! Let's go Quakers!"
Prior to her time at Jefferson, Carideo served as the head women's basketball coach at Penn State Abington for two seasons, earning NEAC Coach of the Year honors in 2015 after guiding the Nittany Lions to a program record mark of 22-5. PSU Abington advanced to the NEAC playoffs, hosted a postseason game, won the conference championship and earned a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history under Carideo.
Carideo's coaching career began at John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls' High School in Philadelphia, where she spent a year as a head coach.
"I'm thrilled to bring Stephanie on board as an assistant coach," commented Coach McLaughlin. "She not only has a wealth of basketball experience and pedigree, but her energy and passion for the game is unmatched. I'm impressed with the relationships she's been able to develop with her players at every level and know she will have a positive impact on our program as we continue to reach for new heights."
A former player herself for Jefferson University (formerly known as Philadelphia University), Carideo was an all-conference selection as a senior, ending her career as a Ram with 1,078 points, 405 rebounds, 400 assists and 223 steals under Coach Tom Shirley. Carideo was named to the Lower Cape May Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 following her success at Lower Cape May High School, where she graduated in 2007.
Carideo earned her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2011 and master's degree in business administration in 2012 from Philadelphia University. She and her husband, Chris, the head men's basketball coach at Widener University, have two sons, Christopher Jr. and Carson.
