Women’s Basketball Adds Three to Coaching Staff – Binghamton University Athletics

VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton women’s basketball program has announced the hiring of Alison Bouman and Zakiya Saunders as Assistant Coaches and Lytoya Baker as its Video Coordinator for the 2024-25 season. They represent the first three staff hires made by Mary Grimes, who was named the Bearcats’ head coach back in April.

Bouman arrives from D’Youville University, where she was the head coach the previous two seasons (2022-24). Under her guidance, the Saints earned their first-ever berth in the East Coast Conference (ECC) Tournament in 2024. The previous season, Bouman led her squad to the 2023 USCAA Small College National Championship. During Bouman’s two seasons at D’Youville, the program was transitioning from the NCAA Division III level to Division II status.

A 2014 graduate of Davenport University, Bouman was a volunteer assistant at Minnesota-Duluth during the 2018-19 season and was an assistant coach at Gannon the following two years. Minnesota Duluth won the 2019 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Tournament while Gannon captured the 2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament crown. Prior to the 2021-22 campaign, Bouman returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach for one season.

From 2014-18, Bouman played professionally overseas, with stints in Bulgaria, Australia, Portugal, France and the Czech Republic.

“I am very excited that Coach Bouman will be a part of my staff here at Binghamton,” Grimes said. “She is a worker and knows what it takes to win. The experience she brings as a previous head coach will be a valuable addition to the staff and the program as a whole.”

Saunders is no stranger to the Binghamton program, having served as the Bearcats’ Director of Operations during the 2022-23 campaign. She arrives from St. Francis (Pa.), where she was an assistant coach this past season.

During her undergraduate career, Saunders was part of a UAlbany squad from 2013-16 which included Grimes as an assistant coach. She played on three straight America East championship teams and was named second-team all-conference in 2016.

Prior to the 2016-17 campaign, Saunders transferred to the University of Central Florida (UCF). After sitting out the year in accordance with the NCAA rules for transfers, she earned second-team all-conference honors during her final season (2017-18).

 

Following her graduation from UCF, Saunders played professionally in Sweden during the 2018-19 season and in Poland during the 2019-20 campaign. At the AAU level, Saunders coached the Orlando Basketball Club (OBC) during the 2021-22 season.

“I am truly exited that Zakiya has decided to come back to Binghamton and for the opportunity to we have to work with her,” Grimes said. “Zakiya knows the America East as a player and as a coach. Her understanding of what it takes to win at this level and her familiarity with me as a coach will play a key role in our development as a program.”

Baker, meanwhile, arrives from Le Moyne College, from where she graduated this past spring. She had a standout career with the Dolphins, which included being named the 2023 and 2024 Northeast Conference (NEC) Defensive Player of the Year and being selected as a 2023 Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II honorable mention All-American.

Behind the scenes, Baker was extensively involved with the intramural program at Le Moyne. She was both an official and scorekeeper for multiple sports, made up the game schedules and was responsible for the set up and tear down of events.

“I am beyond proud and excited that Lytoya has decided to get into coaching and begin her career on my staff here at Binghamton,” Grimes said. “She will bring a great familiarity and experience with my coaching style that will help our young women navigate the nuances of practices and games. Lytoya is a winner and her high level of success on the court will add value as she builds relationships with the players and can speak from a place of great perspective.” 

In addition to the hiring of Bouman, Saunders, and Baker, Grimes has also announced that Maggie Moore will remain on staff as the Bearcats’ other assistant coach.