Born: June 17, 1961
Education: Southern Connecticut State, bachelor’s degree in physical education (1983) and master’s degree in human performance/physical education (1989); member of the basketball team and field hockey team
Family: Spouse and two children, Alec and Gillian Gereg (her uncle, Don Donoher, was Dayton men’s basketball coach 1964-1989)
Career
1983-1985
Western Connecticut, head field hockey coach and assistant women’s basketball coach, adjunct professor (1984)
1985-88
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, head women’s basketball coach
1988-89
Brown University, assistant women’s basketball coach
1989-1990
Joins ESPN as a temp (via Kelly Services) in the communications office before being hired full time as a program planner in 1990
1990-2000: Program planner, ESPN
2000-05: Senior program planner, ESPN
2005-2010: Senior director, programming and acquisitions, ESPN
2010-2013: Vice president, programming and acquisitions, ESPN
2013-16: Vice president, content program and integration, espnW
2016-21: Vice president, women’s sports programming, ESPN
2021: Founder/president of Stiff Sports Media Consulting, LLC
2022-present: President and chair of advisory board, Women’s Sports Network
Milestone Moments
1992
Tom Odjakjian hands off the duties of scheduling women’s basketball on ESPN to Stiff
1993
Constructs ESPN’s women’s basketball broadcast schedule for the first time, a role she performs through 2020-21
1994
In the spring, arranges first UConn vs. Tennessee rivalry game for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1995
Works with USA Basketball to program eight games for the women’s national team tour, leading to the gold medal game being televised by NBC the following year at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
1996
ESPN televises the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Final Four exclusively for the first time (23 games programmed), along with multiple (11) NCAA championships in other sports
1997
WNBA’s inaugural season includes a partial telecast schedule on ESPN
2001
Joins the board of directors for the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards
2003
Joins the ESPN Committee for the V Foundation, which includes the launch of Jimmy V Week activation for ESPN
For the first time, ESPN airs the women’s NCAA Tournament in its entirety, carrying all 63 games across its platforms
2005
Inducted into the Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame
2006
Joins national board of directors for Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, becoming chairperson in 2019-2023
2010
Inducted into New Agenda Northeast Women’s Sports Hall of Fame
2011
Receives the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Mel Greenberg Media Award for her commitment to women’s basketball and advancing the role of media in the women’s game
2012
Selected as a member of the board of directors to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation
2013
Chosen as one of the WISE Women of the Year for her impact on the business of sports
2014
Named one of Business Insider’s 50 Most Influential People Behind the Scenes in Sport
2017-19
Becomes Screening and Advisory Committee member, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
2021
Receives 2021 Naismith John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as part of 2020 class
Receives the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball award from Atlanta Tipoff Club
Recipient of the Edward R. Murrow award from The Radio Television Digital News Association, which honors outstanding achievements in broadcast and digital journalism
2022
Women’s Sports Network launches, through a partnership with L.A.-based streaming company FAST Studios, with founding league partners including Athletes Unlimited, WNBA, LPGA, Premier Hockey Federation, Quattro Media, Street League Skateboarding, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, United States Golf Association, Women’s Football Alliance and World Surf League
2023
Women’s Sports Network signs Michelob Ultra as its first major brand partner; announces an ad exclusive partnership with the NWSL for non-live match of the week content
2024
League One Volleyball (LOVB) announces streaming will be available on Women’s Sports Network
Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) announces partnership for games to be streamed on Women’s Sports Network, the league’s first U.S. media partner
2025
Joins ShotTracker as an adviser
