West Long Branch, NJ — Hawks Women's Basketball head coach Cait Wetmore solidified her coaching staff ahead of the 2026-27 season with the addition of John Azzinaro and Anna Newman, who will be joined by incumbents Cristina Centeno and Aja Boyd, along with graduate assistant coach Alexis Andrews and Director of Basketball Operations Kristin Barrett.

Newman begins her first season with the Hawks after spending the last two years as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Evansville where she starred for the Purple Aces from 2018-2023.

"When talking to [Coach Wetmore) about the job and what she expects it just flows into my morals and how I run things day to day and in the basketball world," Newman said. "Her discipline, the culture she's trying to build, I just love that and want to be a part of that."

Azzinaro also joins Wetmore's staff following two seasons at Fordham and another two at Rider. He additionally spent a season at Binghamton after two years as the Director of Scouting and Player Personnel/Video for the WNBA's Chicago Sky from 2019-21.

After competing for the Hawks last season, Alexis Andrews is added to Wetmore's coaching staff as a graduate assistant. The Montgomery, Alabama native started in all 33 games last season after transferring from Charlotte. She was an impact player for Monmouth, scoring her 1,000th point last season, while leading the team in minutes played and finishing second in assists and third in points.

To round out the staff, Kristin Barrett was hired as the Director of Basketball Operations. Barrett served as a volunteer assistant coach last season at Providence after spending two years as the Assistant to the Commissioner for the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC).

The Hawks are coming off a 21-12 overall record in 2025-26 where they made a CAA Quarterfinal appearance, along with a second round run into the WNIT Tournament. It was just the second time in 15 years, and fifth time ever, the program reached 20-plus victories, which came in just Wetmore's second season at the helm of the program. She guided the Hawks to 11 home victories and a top five finish in the CAA standings with three players earning postseason honors including first team All-CAA selection Gigi Gamble, second team pick Divine Dibula and All-CAA Rookie Team Madalena Amaro. All three Hawks will return entering 2026-27.

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