A New Chapter for Marist Women's Basketball
Marist College’s women’s basketball program is set for a fresh infusion of talent as head coach Erin Doughty welcomes Zakiya Saunders to her staff for the 2026‑27 season. Doughty, now in her fourth year at the helm of the Red Foxes, highlighted Saunders’s blend of playing excellence and coaching experience as a key factor in the decision.
Saunders arrives after a distinguished collegiate career that spanned the University at Albany and the University of Central Florida. At Albany she earned America East All‑Conference Second Team honors and set a single‑season assist record with 227 dishes in 2015‑16. Two years later at UCF she added American Athletic Conference Second Team recognition and reached the 1,000‑point milestone during the conference tournament.
Her professional journey took her across the Atlantic, where she spent two seasons competing in Sweden with Visby Ladies and in Poland with AZS Poznan. The overseas stint sharpened her tactical understanding and offered a global perspective that she now hopes to share with Marist’s roster.
Before joining the Red Foxes, Saunders honed her coaching chops at several programs. She served as an assistant at Binghamton University and St. Francis University (Pa.), and she also contributed to the Orlando Basketball Club, where she helped develop emerging talent.
Returning to the sidelines alongside Saunders will be Nick Volchok and Gabi Mendonca, who continue their roles as assistant coaches. Their combined experience creates a cohesive support structure aimed at elevating the team’s competitiveness in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Corporation.
The addition of Saunders is more than a personnel move; it signals Marist’s ambition to blend academic rigor with on‑court excellence. With a recruiting pedigree that includes high‑profile prospects and a coaching philosophy rooted in versatility, the Red Foxes look poised to contend for their first conference title in program history.