FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Fairfield University Women's Basketball Head Coach Carly Thibault-DuDonis has been named to the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Preseason Watch List for the second-straight season. Coach Carly has built the Stags into one of the most perennial mid-major programs in the country, winning two-straight MAAC Championships along with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. The Stags have been recognized nationally with votes in the Top-25 polls in both seasons while recording the second-highest winning percentage in Division I during that span.
 
"As with all of our awards as of late, I'm just thankful that our program is shining bright on the national stage," Coach Carly said. "Fairfield is a special place and I'm thankful every day to be a Stag."
 
Under Coach Carly's guidance, the Stags have posted a 59-7 overall record in the last two seasons, including a 28-5 mark last year. That success has been further highlighted in conference play with Fairfield boasting a 45-1 record against conference opponents since 2023. Included in those wins are six-straight tournament victories that propelled the Stags to back-to-back MAAC Championships for the first time in program history.
 
Last season, the Stags held one of the most lockdown defensive units in the country, ranking 11th in scoring defense and 13th in 3-point percentage defensive.
 
Coach Carly has always emphasized to share the ball which was shown with Fairfield's 1.26 assist-turnover ratio and 17.5 assists per game, both ranking in the top-20 in Division I.
 
Coming into this season, the Stags were unanimously selected as the MAAC Preseason favorites in the conference poll with five student-athletes receiving Preseason All-MAAC accolades.
 
During her career, Coach Carly has been named the MAAC and All-Met Coach of the Year and was one of five finalists to the Kathy Delaney Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year in 2024. She holds a .771 winning percentage which ranks 14th among all active coaches. Those victories include opponents from 12 different conference including the SEC, ACC, Big East, and Big Ten.
 
The Stags also were recognized nationally this season receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches Preseason Poll.
 
Coach Carly and the Stags will begin their 2025-26 campaign at Villanova on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 7pm.