Freshman Morgan Fuqua earned Shenandoah University’s first-ever Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) singles title with her championship in the Blue 3 flight on Sept. 25. The championship is the first-ever earned by a Shenandoah women’s tennis player at an ITA regional tournament. Anne Stephenson ’04 was a finalist in the championship singles flight at the 2003 Southeast Regional championships.
Shenandoah University Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Tim Marshall announced the addition of Paul VanThof as his full-time assistant coach on Sept. 15. VanThof, a Penfield, New York native, came to Shenandoah as the program’s full-time assistant after one year as the defensive and recruiting coordinator at Westminster (Pa.) College. During his one season at the President’s Athletic Conference school, VanThof helped the Titans bring in a 27-man recruiting class and coached one first team All-PAC selection. Prior to Westminster, VanThof was the defensive coordinator at Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan from 2013-15. With the Hornets, VanThof is involved in all aspects of the program and has secondary duty in athletic communications.
Shenandoah University Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach Andy Marrocco announced the addition of Seth McGuffin as assistant coach on Sept. 8. McGuffin, a Waynesboro, Virginia native, comes to Shenandoah after seven years as the assistant track & field coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. Prior to his experience at OWU, McGuffin was the head coach at ODAC rival Eastern Mennonite for five years. During his tenure at the Ohio Wesleyan, McGuffin mentored 65 student-athletes who earned All-NCAC honors with 22 of those winning league championships. Beginning in 2013, McGuffin began a run of three athletes earning Division III All-America honors in the women’s discus and the men’s decathlon. In addition to those three All-Americans, McGuffin saw his athletes qualify for the NCAA Division III national championships in men’s heptathlon and shot put as well as women’s javelin, discus and hammer throws.
During his time at the Delaware, Ohio, school, athletes broke nine school records and the women’s top 10 list was exclusively coached by McGuffin. His talents were not limited to the track, however, as he also served as the strength & conditioning coach and the assistant volleyball coach. With the Hornets, McGuffin works with the cross country and track & field teams and serves as an assistant in athletic communications.
Shenandoah University Head Women’s Basketball Coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft announced the addition of Aby Diop as the program’s lead assistant on Aug. 23. Diop joined Smeltzer-Kraft’s staff as full-time assistant after a stellar career at perennial DIII power Mary Washington. During her time in Fredericksburg, Diop helped the Eagles to an 88-22 record, a 2012 Capital Athletic Conference championship and a run to the NCAA Elite Eight. The Annandale, Virginia, native was the squad’s co-captain her senior year. In addition to her playing career, Diop has extensive camp and AAU basketball coaching experience including working camps at Mary Washington and Annandale High School as well as with the U.S. Junior Nationals. Diop was also an assistant coach with the NoVA Heat AAU team. Following her graduation in 2014, Diop worked in the front office for the Washington Redskins for two years and was the team’s ticket operations coordinator from August 2015 until her arrival in Winchester.