After hitting the ground running just a year ago, Coach Sherri Nowatzki is settling in at her Alma Mater entering her 2nd year as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at SUNY Fredonia. The 1989 graduate is happy to be back home and working hard to raise the bar & infuse a new culture; adding 7 newcomers to a young squad building off a competitive first year at the helm.
"I am excited to be back in Western New York with family, friends, & colleagues that have helped shape me," said Nowatzki. "This is where it all started, my roots, & blue-collar work ethic which has made me who I am today."
Nowatzki grew up in Wayland, N.Y. a small town with limited opportunities for young girls where she played middle school basketball with the boys at St. Joseph Academy & was one of the first girls to make All-stars in Little League Baseball. Nowatski was inducted in the Wayland/Cohocton High School Hall of Fame as a standout 4-sport athlete & played point guard for the Devils from 1985-1989.
Upon graduation from Fredonia State, her passion for athletics led her to intern for the Buffalo Bills & begin coaching at Dutchess Community College in 1988 while finishing her Masters in Sports Management. She had several stops along the way starting at D'Youville and Keuka before being tabbed as the assistant coach at The United States Naval Academy where she also obtained Lieutenant Junior Grade in her three seasons there.
After moving back to New York and two seasons as assistant coach at St. Bonaventure, Nowatzki got her big break at 30 years old to take over U.S. Military Academy at West Point as Head Coach. In her seven years at Army, she brought the program to new heights making the squad a top contender in the Patriot League. Her top season was 2000-2001 when the Black Knights finished 19-10.
Nowatzki then spent three seasons at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, where she oversaw a successful transition from an NAIA program to a Division II institution as Head Women's Basketball Coach & Asst. AD. Nowatzki's final stop before rejoining Fredonia State was as the Head Girl's Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, and a physical education teacher at St. Joseph's Academy High School in St. Augustine, Florida for the past 15 years. Her top season saw the team finish 20-6 and win the SSAA Championship. She was also twice named Coach of the Year.
Nowatzki's impressions of the team have been positive. "They made an impact on me when I interviewed, I could see they wanted to be pushed harder and we talked about raising the bar," said Nowatzki. "They are a hardworking group of young ladies that want to get better & do things the right way and give back to their community."
Nowatzki's goal is to bring Fredonia State women's basketball its first SUNYAC title. "I am grateful for what Sarah and Rich have put in place and hope to build upon it hopefully into a championship team."
The "Rich" that Nowatzki is referring to is assistant coach Rich Norton, himself a Fredonia State grad, who has served in that capacity for the previous three coaching staffs dating back to 2012. Coach Norton and Nowatzki's paths have crossed before, with Norton having worked summer camps for Nowatski and she credited their positive relationship with her wanting to come back to Fredonia State.
Coach Nowatzki describes herself as a passionate leader with old school values & morals wanting to empower young women to be the best they can be. "It's always been about developing true student-athletes for me" said Nowatzki "building positive relationships and surrounding yourself with good people".
"I am delighted to live my passion & do what I do to give back. I've been fortunate to travel all over the country and see women's basketball grow into what it is today. My goal is to leave this program better than when I got here."
Nowatzki graduated from Fredonia State with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Media and a minor in Public Relations, and earned her Master's from the United States Sports Academy, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
