Jennifer Schneider joined the Golden Knights[apos] staff in the Spring of 2003 as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
As fifth-year Head Coach Gail Striegler[apos]s first assistant, Schneider will oversee recruiting, scheduling, scouting and equipment in addition to as day-to-day administrative duties. On the floor, she will be responsible for coaching the post players.
[quote]Gail has really established the UCF program as a powerhouse in the Atlantic Sun,[quote] says Schneider. [quote]She is an excellent teacher of the game, which was one of the reasons why I choose to join her staff.[quote]
[quote][Athletics Director] Steve Orsini and the administration have great vision for this university and are committed to making UCF Athletics a perennial power,[quote] she continues. [quote]That is exciting to be a part of.[quote]
Schneider is no stranger to basketball in Florida as she comes to the Golden Knights after serving in a similar capacity at USF in Tampa for the previous two seasons. In her first season with the Bulls, her recruiting class was ranked 40th in the nation by the All-Star Girls Report. In her first year, she helped the team improve from a 4-24 record in 2000-01 to a 14-13 mark in 2001-02, the sixth best turnaround in the country at the time. With a full season to recruit, her recruiting class was ranked 25th in the country by the All-Star Girls Report the following year.
Schneider also brings a familiarity with the Atlantic Sun as well. Prior to her tenure at USF, she served as assistant coach at UCF rival Stetson University and helped the team improve its record each year she was there. In her final year with the team, Stetson collected a school record 22 victories and earned a spot in the semi-finals.
Schneider also assisted in coaching the Michigan Tech women[apos]s basketball squad that posted a 21-10 record en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 in 1998. She began her coaching career at Barron Collier High School. From 1992-97, she guided the junior varsity girls[apos] program to a 97-5 mark.
[quote]I am very excited about the opportunity to put my experience to work for UCF. Gail is committed to excellence and is really trying to make a difference in young people[apos]s lives,[quote] said Schneider. [quote]Working with Gail and her staff is a daily blessing![quote]
Schneider graduated of Northwood University in Midland, Mich., in 1992 with a bachelor[apos]s degree in business administration.