Emily Garner, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan ’60 Head Coach of Women’s Basketball, announced on Mar. 16 the promotion of assistant coach Courtnay Pilypaitis to associate head coach for the Cornell Big Red Women’s Basketball team.
The move highlights Pilypaitis’s contributions since joining the program in June 2025. The Cornell Big Red Women’s Basketball team is an intercollegiate athletics program at Cornell University and competes in the Ivy League, according to the official website. The team is based in Ithaca, New York and has previously secured Ivy League championships in 2008 and 2014.
“Courtnay has been a tremendous addition to our coaching staff from day one,” Garner said. “Her promotion to Associate Head Coach reflects the leadership, commitment and work ethic that she brings to our program every day, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build the program together. I’m excited to see her step into this role, and to continue to make a positive impact on our student-athletes.”
Pilypaitis joined Cornell after serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Fresno State University from 2021–24, where she helped develop multiple Mountain West all-conference selections and 1,000-point scorers. She also coached at UMBC as assistant coach and international recruiting coordinator from 2016–19, mentoring several America East honorees including Taylor McCarley. Earlier in her career, she worked at the University of Vermont as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2012–16.
As a player, Pilypaitis competed professionally with Team Canada—including participation in the 2012 Olympic Games—and played for Vici-Aistes of the Euroleague where she earned Import Player of the Year and Guard of the Year honors. At the University of Vermont (2006–10), she was a three-year captain who set several program records.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to step into the role of Associate Head Coach,” Pilypaitis said. “I’m honored and thankful for the trust Coach Garner has placed in me. I look forward to continuing to support our student-athletes and helping elevate the Cornell women’s basketball program.”
