Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kristen Sharkey Announces Staff Additions
4/19/2025 10:32:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BUFFALO, NY – University at Buffalo women's basketball head coach Kristen Sharkey has announced the addition of Allison Spaschak and Damon Jones to her coaching staff for the 2025-26 season.
Spaschak comes to Buffalo after one season on the staff at Syracuse University where she served as the program's producer/videographer.
Before Syracuse, Spaschak spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rochester, where she was responsible for skill development, scouting reports, team and individual film breakdowns as well as all aspects of the recruiting process. She coached five All-University Athletic Association players and two All-Americans in her time on the sidelines.
Prior to Rochester, Spaschak was an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., where she helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a 20-7 overall record an Ohio Dominion Athletic Conference Regular Season Co-Championship and championship game appearance in 2022. She coached three All-Conference players while with the Yellow Jackets.
Spaschak began her collegiate coaching career at SUNY Brockport where she helped the Golden Eagles to back-to-back SUNYAC Tournament appearances, including the semifinals in 2019. She is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and was recognized as a 30 Under 30 Award recipient in 2023.
A 2018 graduate of Ithaca College, Spaschak was a four-year letterwinner on the women's basketball team that made three NCAA Tournament appearances and won the 2017 Empire 8 Championship. She earned her bachelor's degree in sports media and holds minors in sport psychology and coaching from Ithaca. In 2020, she graduated with a Master's Degree in athletic administration from SUNY Brockport.
"Allison is an attention to detail, passionate coach who coaches with her heart and values our young people by meeting them where they are and taking them higher," said Sharkey. "She's a winner with great energy and I know she will show up every day ready to go with the intention of growing our program to great heights."
Jones comes to Buffalo after a successful career in basketball in which he has served in a wide variety of roles, most recently on Cheryl Reeve's coaching staff with the Minnesota Lynx where he served as a player development coach and video coordinator, helping to lead the team to a Commissioner's Cup Championship and the first 30+-win season in Lynx history. Last summer he also worked on the support staff of the U.S. Women's National Team that captured an eighth straight Olympic Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Before finding his way into the WNBA, Jones had coaching stints with Notre Dame College, John Carroll University, Missouri Western State University and Hope College. As an assistant at John Carroll, he led the Blue Streaks to an Ohio Athletic Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022-23 while mentoring and Developing three All Conference selections and one Bevo Francis Top 50 Finalist.
He also has several years of experience in various roles of player development and basketball operations with the NBA and G League, having worked for the Grand Rapids Gold and the Detroit Pistons.
Jones played professionally for four years in Denmark, Spain and Ireland. The Cleveland, Ohio native ended his collegiate career having played two seasons at Mercyhurst University, where he led the Lakers to two appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
"Buffalo, we hit a home run with Damon!" said Sharkey. "He is a highly skilled player development coach with a high basketball IQ and incredible pedigree in this game. He's a player's coach who builds young people up. He understands my vision and is ready to tackle the challenge ahead of us. I am thrilled to welcome Damon to the Buffalo family."
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women's Basketball Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Blue & White Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Spaschak comes to Buffalo after one season on the staff at Syracuse University where she served as the program's producer/videographer.
Before Syracuse, Spaschak spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Rochester, where she was responsible for skill development, scouting reports, team and individual film breakdowns as well as all aspects of the recruiting process. She coached five All-University Athletic Association players and two All-Americans in her time on the sidelines.
Prior to Rochester, Spaschak was an assistant coach at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Va., where she helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a 20-7 overall record an Ohio Dominion Athletic Conference Regular Season Co-Championship and championship game appearance in 2022. She coached three All-Conference players while with the Yellow Jackets.
Spaschak began her collegiate coaching career at SUNY Brockport where she helped the Golden Eagles to back-to-back SUNYAC Tournament appearances, including the semifinals in 2019. She is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and was recognized as a 30 Under 30 Award recipient in 2023.
A 2018 graduate of Ithaca College, Spaschak was a four-year letterwinner on the women's basketball team that made three NCAA Tournament appearances and won the 2017 Empire 8 Championship. She earned her bachelor's degree in sports media and holds minors in sport psychology and coaching from Ithaca. In 2020, she graduated with a Master's Degree in athletic administration from SUNY Brockport.
"Allison is an attention to detail, passionate coach who coaches with her heart and values our young people by meeting them where they are and taking them higher," said Sharkey. "She's a winner with great energy and I know she will show up every day ready to go with the intention of growing our program to great heights."
Jones comes to Buffalo after a successful career in basketball in which he has served in a wide variety of roles, most recently on Cheryl Reeve's coaching staff with the Minnesota Lynx where he served as a player development coach and video coordinator, helping to lead the team to a Commissioner's Cup Championship and the first 30+-win season in Lynx history. Last summer he also worked on the support staff of the U.S. Women's National Team that captured an eighth straight Olympic Gold Medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Before finding his way into the WNBA, Jones had coaching stints with Notre Dame College, John Carroll University, Missouri Western State University and Hope College. As an assistant at John Carroll, he led the Blue Streaks to an Ohio Athletic Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022-23 while mentoring and Developing three All Conference selections and one Bevo Francis Top 50 Finalist.
He also has several years of experience in various roles of player development and basketball operations with the NBA and G League, having worked for the Grand Rapids Gold and the Detroit Pistons.
Jones played professionally for four years in Denmark, Spain and Ireland. The Cleveland, Ohio native ended his collegiate career having played two seasons at Mercyhurst University, where he led the Lakers to two appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
"Buffalo, we hit a home run with Damon!" said Sharkey. "He is a highly skilled player development coach with a high basketball IQ and incredible pedigree in this game. He's a player's coach who builds young people up. He understands my vision and is ready to tackle the challenge ahead of us. I am thrilled to welcome Damon to the Buffalo family."
For all the latest on UB women's basketball, follow @UBWomensBasketball on Twitter/X and Instagram and like the UB Women's Basketball Facebook page.
Click here for information on the Blue & White Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
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