Aug. 8, 2007

Erie, Pa. - First-year Mercyhurst women's basketball coach Deanna Richard announced the addition of former Northern Michigan standout Tiffany Grubaugh to the coaching staff. Grubaugh will serve as assistant coach and will specialize in the team's strength and conditioning program.

"I'm excited," said Grubaugh. "I have so many ideas about what I want to do and what I want to accomplish. It was a chance for a new start with a new coaching staff. I really liked the area and the athletic department seems awesome. They don't care just about winning, they care about people here, which is great."

A 2005 graduate of Northern Michigan, Grubaugh enjoyed a stellar four-year playing career in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). After winning the conference's freshman of the year award at Wayne State in 2001, she transferred to Northern Michigan, where she totaled 1,425 points (17.6 points per game) and pulled down 406 rebounds (5.0 rebounds pre game) in 81 games.

Grubaugh also made 161 3-pointers and shot 35 percent from 3-point range during her career. As a junior in 2003-04, she averaged a career-best 19.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Grubaugh was an All-GLIAC First Team selection three times and was an All-Great Lakes Region First Team pick in 2005. She was also an All-GLIAC Second Team honoree in the shot put, discus and javelin.

Following graduation, Grubaugh played one season for the professional BC Marburg Blue Dolphins basketball team in Germany.

"She has great basketball knowledge," said Richard. "The one thing in particular that I was excited about was her strength and conditioning background. It will benefit our program immensely."

Grubaugh spent the last two years working at Velocity Sports Performance in Dublin, Calif., as a sports performance coach, operations coordinator and personal trainer. She is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

"I'll be in charge of preseason conditioning," said Grubaugh. "That's exciting. Being a former student athlete and with my background in strength and conditioning, I've learned a lot about the best way to prepare players and help them become better athletes."

Her familiarity with the GLIAC will also be a help to Richard, who is entering her first season at the head of the Mercyhurst program.

"She will help out in breaking down film and knowing players tendencies since she is familiar with the league," Richard said. "My experience in the GLIAC should help a lot," Grubaugh continued. "I've played against most of the coaches and even some of my former teammates and players I played against are still in the league. I've had five years experience in the conference in knowing coaching styles and names and faces."

The Lakers open their season at Mansfield on Nov. 15.