Gail F. Maloney '72, the associate director of athletics at Buffalo State College and president in 1997-98 of the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC), is one of the nation's most successful NCAA Division III women's basketball coaches with more than 300 victories since taking over the Lady Bengals program in 1979. Her Buffalo State squads have captured a league-leading eight SUNYAC titles and have appeared in 10 NCAA Division III playoffs, while her 333-142 combined record represents an impressive 70.1 winning percentage. Maloney was voted SUNYAC Coach of the Year in 1984, 1989 and 1994. That latter season, she was also named Coach of Year by the Converse Division III, District II and the New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association. The SUNY Cortland Alumni Association's Western New York Chapter named Maloney its Alum of the Year in 1996.
A native of Valley Stream, N.Y., Maloney graduated from Valley Stream Central School. At SUNY Cortland, she competed in softball and was active in the Women's Athletic Association. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland in 1972, a master's degree in student personnel services from Buffalo State in 1976, and a Ph.D. in the social foundations of education from SUNY Buffalo in 1995.
Between 1972-78, Maloney taught physical education and health and coached at Amherst Central High School in Snyder, N.Y. She coached swimming and diving, softball, basketball and field hockey. Her field hockey teams won numerous league and sectional titles and in 1976 posted a perfect 19-0 record. Maloney also coached women's volleyball and bowling at D'Youville College in Buffalo between 1973-76.
In 1978, Maloney joined the Buffalo State faculty and coached the College's field hockey squad that autumn. In 1979, she became associate director of athletics for women until 1985, when she held the same post for the combined men's and women's program. From July 1996 to February 1997, she was interim director of athletics.
An accomplished administrator, Maloney has served on the NCAA Softball Committee, the Women's Basketball Division III All-American Selection Committee and the Legislative Committee, and was women's division chair before becoming president of the SUNYAC.
Maloney helped with fund-raising efforts as a Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo board of directors member for 10 years. She continues to serve on the Eric Community College Athletics Advisory Board.
