UC Davis Athletics

Transitioning to a role as the Director of Olympic Sport Operations, long-time assistant coach and former UC Santa Barbara standout Stephanie Shadwell served most recently as the Director of Basketball Operations for the UC Davis women's basketball team from 2015-2023. 

In her new role as the Director of Olympic Sport Operations, Shadwell works directly with the coaching staffs for approximately 18 sports. She helps them coordinate travel and provides support services. Additionally, she helps the business office by monitoring sports budgets and completing analytical projects. Her main focus is to make the coaches' lives easier so they can focus on coaching, winning, and building their respective programs. 

"We are so excited that Stephanie has chosen to join the Aggie family," Gross said. "She brings a tremendous amount of expertise to our staff, with experience in coaching, administration, and management. Stephanie and I have known each other for many years, dating back to our high school days in San Diego. She is an amazing person who will be an asset to our staff and a great mentor to our student-athletes."

Shadwell comes to UC Davis after spending the 2014-15 season as an assistant coach at Cal State San Marcos, helping the Cougars to a 16-16 overall record and a second consecutive Association of Independent Institutions Conference title. Cal State San Marcos, which also earned a berth to the NAIA Division I Championships, won 10 of its final 14 games under interim head coach Crystal Harris, who was named the A.I.I. Coach of the Year, while four student-athletes earned all-conference honors.

No stranger to the Big West Conference, Shadwell was an assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton from 2000-03, and spent eight years in various positions at the high school level. Following her stay in Orange County, Shadwell spent two seasons as a physical education teacher at St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel, California, and was the head coach at Junipero Serra HS in San Juan Capistrano, California from 2003-05.

She also served as an assistant at San Marcos HS before relocating to the Pacific Northwest and serving as a volunteer assistant at both Kingston and North Kitsap high schools in Washington, while also working as a youth and sports director at the YMCA in Silverdale, Washington.

A native of San Diego, California, Shadwell attended El Cajon Christian HS where she hit a half court buzzer beater to win the state championship her senior year. Following her time at El Cajon Christion, Shadwell was a mainstay in the backcourt for the Gauchos from 1995-99, appearing in 96 games and helping UC Santa Barbara to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament. She served as team captain as a junior and senior, helping lead the Gauchos to a pair of Big West Conference championships, and was selected as the team's best defender as a junior while earning a number of scholar-athlete awards.

Shadwell graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in sports management in 2000, later adding a master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific in 2004.

Outside of athletics, Shadwell is enjoys golfing, mountain biking, hiking, and paddle boarding. She is a proud mom of a mini Aussie named Joey.