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Canisius University Athletics

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Head Coach Tiffany Swoffard 2024 Headshot

Tiffany Swoffard

Tiffany Swoffard was named the 11th head coach in women’s basketball program history on April 17, 2024.
 
In her first year at the helm, the Golden Griffins won 10 games, including a 9-11 mark in MAAC Conference play, despite inheriting a roster that returned only 1% of its scoring from the previous season. The Griffs’ 10 overall wins under Swoffard are the most for a first-year Canisius head coach since former head coach Scott Hemer won 11 games in 2018-19. Swoffard earned her first career win as a head coach in a 48-46 victory over Saint Francis (Pa.) on November 15, 2024.

The Griffs led the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) in free throws made while finishing second among the conference in rebound margin. The season was marked by consistent growth, including a 9-9 regular season record in 2025, capped off by a three-game win streak in the month of March. This streak propelled the program to the 2025 MAAC Women's Basketball Championship, clinching a spot in the ten-team field for the first season where every team is not guaranteed a place in the tournament. Canisius finished the regular season tied for sixth in MAAC play, despite receiving a last-place pre-season ranking in October.

In her first season as a head coach, player development remained a pillar of Coach Swoffard’s coaching philosophy. Junior guard Franka Wittenberg played the best season of her career, notching a 41.5% field goal percentage, 31.0% three-point field goal percentage (33.3% in conference play), and averaging 8.4 points per game and 2.5 assists per game. Wittenberg earned MAAC Player of the Week honors on December 29th. 

Sophomore shooting guard Mary Copple saw significant increases as well, with double-digit increases in field goal and three-point percentage from her freshman year. Copple ranked 11th in MAAC play in three-point field goal percentage (36.6%). Notably, Copple connected on clutch three-point baskets versus Saint Peter’s (March 8th) and Niagara (February 11th) to secure victories in both contests.
Graduate guard Jaela Johnson ranked in the top 20 of five statistical categories in MAAC play, including #2 in free throw percentage (91.3%). Johnson’s lone season with the Griffs was the most efficient of her seven-year college career. Johnson signed a professional contract in August 2025 with GET United of the BNXT League in the Netherlands. 

Additionally, the 2024-25 season was impacted by forward and post player development under the direction of Swoffard. Shariah Gailes led the team in rebounding, ranking third in the MAAC in rebounds per game (8.1) and second in offensive rebounds per game (2.7). Gailes also ranked #15 in field goal percentage for the MAAC (44.1%), averaging 9.1 points per game for the Griffs. Gailes hit double-digit scoring 13 times, and posted a team-high eight double-double performances.
Yasmine Djibril saw a significant increase in production through her freshman campaign from non-conference to conference play. In league play, Djibril averaged 5.8 points and 5.2 rebounds. Djibril led the Griffs in field goal percentage (49%) and earned MAAC Rookie of the Week honors on Dec. 29th.

Three players, Sanogo, Djibril and Gailes ranked in the top 25 among the MAAC in rebounding.

Prior to Canisius, Swoffard gained experience as an assistant coach with 14 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience at both the Power 5 and mid-major levels. Swoffard took over the Golden Griffin program after spending the 2023-24 campaign as a member of the Penn State women’s basketball coaching staff.

“I am excited to announce that Tiffany Swoffard will join the Canisius University community as our next head women’s basketball coach,” Canisius Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Maher said at the time of her hiring. “Tiffany has spent 19 years preparing to be a head coach and she shared a compelling vision to continue the ascent of our women’s basketball program in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). I am thrilled that her first head coaching opportunity will come at Canisius, and I look forward to working with her to reach our championship goals.”
 
“I am extremely thankful and excited to be named the head women’s basketball coach at Canisius University,” Swoffard said. “I want to thank President Steve Stoute, athletic director Bill Maher and deputy athletic director Lisa Liotta for trusting me with this tremendous opportunity. I chose to become a college coach with the belief that I can add value to young women’s lives through the game of basketball. I am passionate about people, academic excellence, service to the local community and winning. I will work tirelessly to elevate the Canisius program and I cannot wait to get started.”
 
In her one season on staff at Penn State, Swoffard helped lead the Nittany Lions to their first 20-win season since 2016-17, which resulted in a WBIT berth and an appearance in the tournament’s semifinal round. Swoffard oversaw the development of the Penn State post players and served as the team’s rebounding coordinator, as the Nittany Lions finished the year in the top half of the Big Ten in both rebounds per game and rebounding margin.
 
Before joining the staff at Penn State, Swoffard spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Miami (Ohio) in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). From 2019-23, six RedHawks earned All-MAC accolades, while 20 student-athletes earned All-MAC Academic honors. In addition to her role as recruiting coordinator, Swoffard was the team’s offensive coordinator in 2022-23, where Miami (Ohio) ranked fourth in the MAC in league scoring average, as the RedHawks posted an average of 72.1 points per game against conference rivals.

Swoffard joined the RedHawks’ staff after spending four years as an assistant coach at Toledo, where she played an integral role in all aspects of the program, including perimeter-player development, recruiting, academic support and opponent scouting. She served as Toledo’s recruiting coordinator and worked with both the guards and post players.

During her time with the Rockets, Swoffard helped lead Toledo to an 81-49 overall record and a 43-29 mark in MAC play, including a pair of 20-win seasons in 2016-17 and 2018-19. Swoffard was in her second year as an assistant coach with the Rockets when the team won the MAC Tournament following the 2016-17 season. During her tenure, Toledo garnered 12 All-MAC selections, made an NCAA Tournament appearance and earned two WNIT berths.

Prior to Toledo, Swoffard spent five seasons at Mercer, where she handled recruiting, on-court development, academic support and in-office administration and worked with both the guards and post players. She mentored five all-conference athletes and 17 academic all-conference recipients. Swoffard helped lead Mercer to its first 20-win season in two decades in 2012-13, and its first appearance in a postseason tournament since 1985.

Before her stint at Mercer, Swoffard spent four seasons (2007-10) as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. There, she was responsible for arranging team travel, updating game statistics, scouting opponents, organizing film exchange, ordering equipment, scheduling community service projects and assisting with scheduling. Swoffard also coordinated recruiting visits, identified possible recruits, facilitated camps and served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. While on staff there, Arkansas – Fort Smith finished third at the 2008 NJCAA National Tournament and she also assisted with the program’s transition to the NCAA Division II level.

Swoffard started her collegiate coaching career at NCAA Division III Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., where she was a graduate assistant coach from 2005-07. Before that, she spent two seasons as the junior team head coach of the Georgia Metros Nike Elite AAU Basketball program.

A native of Chattanooga, Tenn., Swoffard was a four-year letterwinner at Austin Peay from 1998-2002, including two consecutive years in which the Lady Governors captured the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championship and went on to play in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament (2000-01 and 2001-02).

An active member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), Swoffard earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from Austin Peay in 2002. She went on to earn her master’s degree in business administration from Rowan in 2007.

What others are saying about Head Coach Tiffany Swoffard…

“Tiffany is a fantastic hire. She is a visionary leader with a proven track record of fostering relationships, developing talent and driving success. She has a passion for the game and a commitment to excellence. Canisius got a great one.” – Carolyn Kieger (Head Coach, Penn State University)

"Tiffany Swoffard is an exceptional role model and mentor for her players. She sets a very high standard for them in the classroom and in the community. She has won championships and I know she will continue the winning tradition at Canisius with her work ethic." – Susie Gardner (Former Head Coach, Mercer University)

"Tiffany is more than prepared to be the CEO of her own program. She is extremely talented, hardworking and has mastered every facet of the job." – Tricia Cullop (Head Coach, University of Miami)

"Two things that are common themes with Coach Swoffard - her ability to recruit/develop talent at a high level and her connectivity. She doesn’t create relationships for the game, or the season; she stays connected as a mentor well beyond when the band stops playing. That seems to be very consistent with who she is and how she treats people." – Jude Killy (Director of Athletics, University of Maine)

"There aren’t many people in our profession who check all the boxes. Tiffany is a proven recruiter and developer who spends countless hours honing her Xs and Os skills. She is intelligent, organized, and genuinely cares about the impact she has on young women. There is no doubt in my mind she will thrive as a Head Coach once that well-deserved opportunity presents itself." – Katrina Merriweather (Head Coach, University of Cincinnati) 

"Tiffany Swoffard is a natural born leader. People whether younger or older naturally want to follow her and be in her presence. Everything she touches grows. Our defense and guard play at Toledo was next level under her guidance. She was a key piece in our MAC Championship and NCAA appearance." – Tony Greene (Associate Head Coach, Baylor University)