AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College Director of Athletics Traci Murphy announced today that Stephanie Albano, a veteran head coach and administrator, will transition to the role of Athletics Chief of Staff/Business Manager. As part of the transition, Albano will step down from her duties as Head Women's Volleyball Coach. 

Albano has long served in various administrative capacities at Daemen, including a stint as the Division's Senior Woman Administrator and most recently as the Assistant Athletics Director for Administration. In her new role, she will assist Murphy with the implementation of the recently completed strategic plan and special program initiatives while handling the Division's business affairs. Albano will continue to hold a seat on the Division's Leadership Team, a group charged with the day-to-day management of Daemen Athletics. 

"Stephanie has been an incredible leader for us, as both a coach and administrator," Murphy said. "Throughout her tenure, she has shown herself to be thoughtful, organized and driven. I have no doubt that she will continue to be an outstanding asset to our Division as she tackles this new challenge."

With Albano stepping away from the program, Murphy announced that Eli Irizarry Pares will serve as Interim Head Coach. Irizarry Pares has been the program's Graduate Assistant Coach for the past two seasons. A national search will be conducted to identify the next permanent head coach. 

"There is never an easy or right time to take a different path or make a change," Albano said. "I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of this program over the past seven seasons. What we were all able to do with the program has been nothing short of amazing. Hard and challenging for sure, yet amazing. I am so proud of all the women that I had the opportunity to coach and grateful for the belief and trust that they had in my vision. I am excited for this next step with Daemen Athletics and to serve in a new capacity."

Albano arrived at Daemen as the college was completing its transition from NAIA to NCAA membership. She served as the Associate Head Women's Volleyball Coach in 2015 before being promoted to the head coaching position the following year. In six seasons at the helm, Albano led the Wildcats to a 101-58 record, three East Coast Conference regular season championships, two conference tournament titles and three NCAA tournament berths. Most recently, Albano guided the program to its first-ever East Regional championship, advancing to the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship Elite Eight during a 25-8 campaign.

Prior to her arrival at Daemen, Albano held assistant coaching positions at Canisius College, Medaille College and the University at Buffalo. The Western New York native was a standout student-athlete before entering the coaching profession. As a high school senior, she was named the Gatorade New York State Women's Volleyball Player of the Year and went on to a four-year career at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where she graduated in 2009 with a degree in Business Administration.

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

Follow the Daemen College women's volleyball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWVB.