AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen University Director of Athletics Traci Murphy announced a pair of internal promotions today, highlighting the excellent performance of two of the division's administrators. Stephanie Albano has been promoted to Senior Associate Athletics Director for Internal Operations and Suzie Yormick-DeNillo has been promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Success.

Now in her eighth year at Daemen, Albano has served in a variety of administrative roles, most recently as the Athletics Chief of Staff/Business Manager. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the division's business affairs while working closely with Murphy on the day-to-day operations of Daemen's 17 intercollegiate athletics programs and the division's $2 million annual budget. Budgetary planning, overall efficiency and project management are among Albano's key areas of focus. In addition, Albano serves as the sport supervisor for the men's soccer, women's bowling and lacrosse programs.

Albano came to Daemen in 2015, serving for one season as the Associate Head Women's Volleyball Coach before being promoted to the program's top position. She served as head coach for six seasons in which she led the Wildcats to three NCAA tournament berths, two East Coast Conference championships and the 2021 NCAA Division II East Regional championship. Albano is the third member of the Daemen Athletics staff to earn Senior Associate status, joining Mike MacDonald (Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations) and Mike Miranto (Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications and Operations).

"Stephanie's experience as a head coach has lent itself well in her transition to becoming a full-time administrator," Murphy said. "She has an innate ability to keep things organized and moving in the right direction. Her and I have developed a great rapport and rhythm while working together, which will continue to benefit our entire division."

Yormick-DeNillo's promotion comes shortly into her Daemen tenure. Hired last February as the Director of Compliance, Yormick-DeNillo has quickly established herself as a key member of the Daemen Athletics administrative team. She is responsible for the development, implementation and review of Daemen's athletic compliance program ensuring adherence to NCAA and East Coast Conference rules and regulations, as well as university policies and procedures. She additionally serves as the sport supervisor for the men's and women's cross country and track and field teams. 

Like Albano, Yormick-DeNillo has held various roles within the intercollegiate athletics industry, including stints as a coach and administrator. Prior to arriving at Daemen, she served as the Manager of Athletic Operations at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pa.

"Suzie is, without question, our biggest advocate for NCAA compliance and student-athlete support services," Murphy said. "Moving her into an assistant athletics director role was inevitable. She continues to demonstrate a level of organization, professionalism and dedication befitting of an upper-level administrator."

The promotions give Daemen four women at the assistant athletics director level or higher, representing more than 50% of the division's upper-level administrators. Among Western New York's NCAA Division I and II institutions, Daemen is the only one that can currently make that claim.