Joy McCorvey has been named the 11th head coach of the Stony Brook University women’s basketball program.
McCorvey, an Alabama native and former St. John’s University standout, returns to Long Island for her head coaching debut after an impressive 13-year career as an assistant coach, including three previous seasons at the University of Tennessee. She helped the Lady Vols post a 70-34 record, with three straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Tennessee reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023.
Stony Brook University Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron and President Maurie McInnis made the announcement on April 15, and McCorvey was welcomed at a press conference on April 19.
“I am humbled and humbled to be the next head women’s basketball coach at Stony Brook University,” McCorvey said. “I am grateful to Shawn Heilbron, his leadership team, and President McInnis for the trust they have placed in me to help guide this program. Stony Brook is an incredible place that prides itself on academic and athletic excellence, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue the winning tradition.
“I am beyond excited to welcome Joy to the Stony Brook family as our new women’s basketball coach,” Heilbron said. “His dynamic personality and very high level of basketball intelligence will allow him to step in and make an immediate impact. Most importantly, she truly cares about the student-athlete experience and will inspire our women to achieve excellence on and off the field.
“We are very excited to welcome Coach Joy McCorvey to our varsity family,” McInnis said. “As a standout student-athlete while attending St. John’s University, Joy understands the qualities needed to be a successful coach, as well as a teacher and mentor to her players to help them excel at the highest levels of competition.
In June 2022, McCorvey’s was named one of the most influential assistant coaches in Division I women’s basketball by Silver Waves Media. In January 2024, Athleticism ranked her among the top 20 assistants ready to lead their own Division I program.
McCorvey’s resume as an assistant coach includes a 286-143 overall record in 13 seasons, with 12 postseason appearances (eight NCAA tournaments and four WNITs) and 12 seasons of 20 wins or more.
McCorvey spent three seasons at Florida State and served as associate head coach for the 2020-21 season. She helped the Seminoles go 58-26 with two trips to the NCAA tournament. Before joining Florida State, McCorvey was a member of former Seawolf Kim Barnes Arico’s coaching staff at Michigan from 2012 to 2018. In six seasons, the Wolverines went 134-73 with six postseason appearances (two NCAA tournaments and four WNITs). Michigan won the 2017 WNIT championship.
A four-year captain at St. John’s – where she is one of four players to have more than 700 points and 700 rebounds in her career – McCorvey was a three-time All-Big East All-Academic selection ( 2007-10) and the 2008 recipient of the Marianne Noonan Memorial Prize at St. John’s University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in childhood education from St. John’s in 2010.
McCorvey replaces Ashley Langford, who left his position as coach of the Seawolves to accept the head coaching position at Tulane University.
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