Adelphi University Women's Basketball

Zhaneia 'Z' Thybulle returns to the Adelphi sidelines for her second stint ahead of the 2026-27 season. After spending the 2025-26 season at her alma mater, Wagner College, as an assistant coach, Thybulle returns to her Long Island roots to rejoin the Adelphi University women's basketball coaching staff. The Seahawks earned a spot in the NEC Tournament, but fell in the quarterfinal round to Le Moyne. A three-year starter at Wagner College from 2020-23, Zhaneia Thybulle's first season with the Seahawks was spent with current Adelphi Head Coach Sade Jackson on former Adelphi head coach Heather Jacobs' staff as an assistant coach. Now, Thybulle -- an Elmont High School basketball great -- will work alongside her college mentor to help coach the Panthers, again. Thybulle transformed into an NEC All-Conference player at Wagner, after playing her first two collegiate seasons at UNC Wilmington. She appeared in 114 career games with 74 starts, finishing her career as a two-time All-Northeast Conference (NEC) Third Team selection (2021-22, 2022-23) and the NEC’s assists leader in back-to-back seasons. While a Seahawk, the Elmont, NY native appeared in 75 games, making 74 starts, logging 2428 minutes averaging 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists across 33 minutes per game while shooting 38.4% from the floor.  She became just the sixth player in Wagner women's basketball history to repeat as an All-NEC performer. Thybulle led the NEC in assists in back-to-back seasons (2021-22, 2022-23) and earned NEC Third Team All-Conference honors both times for her efforts. Thybulle originally hails from Elmont, N.Y.

Akilah Bethel joins Sade Jackson's staff for the start of the 2025–26 season. Bethel brings a wealth of high-level experience as both a player and coach, with a background that also includes expertise in logistics, marketing, and digital content. Her coaching experience includes working with the NBA's Development Program, where she created player development and scouting videos. She also served as an assistant coach for Team Melo's women's basketball program, where she was responsible for defensive coordination and scheme development. On the professional level, Bethel is among a select group of women to have played for the Harlem Globetrotters. She also enjoyed a nine-year professional playing career overseas, with stops in Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, Spain, Australia, Turkey amongst other countries. While in Luxembourg, she also served as a coach for the U-18 women's national team. Bethel earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration from Louisiana State University, after beginning her collegiate career at West Virginia University, where she studied Communications. Her career accolades include: 2021 MVP, BSNF Puerto Rico League Big East All-Academic Team Big 12 All-Academic Team SEC All-Community Service Team She is also the founder of The Bethel League, based in Baltimore, Maryland. The league is designed to promote and empower young women in the DMV community and operates as a certified NCAA summer basketball league. A Baltimore, Maryland native, Bethel brings a dynamic and diverse background that will be a major asset to the program.

Akilah Bethel joins Sade Jackson's staff for the start of the 2025–26 season. Bethel brings a wealth of high-level experience as both a player and coach, with a background that also includes expertise in logistics, marketing, and digital content. Her coaching experience includes working with the NBA's Development Program, where she created player development and scouting videos. She also served as an assistant coach for Team Melo's women's basketball program, where she was responsible for defensive coordination and scheme development. On the professional level, Bethel is among a select group of women to have played for the Harlem Globetrotters. She also enjoyed a nine-year professional playing career overseas, with stops in Luxembourg, Puerto Rico, Spain, Australia, Turkey amongst other countries. While in Luxembourg, she also served as a coach for the U-18 women's national team. Bethel earned a Bachelor of Science in Sport Administration from Louisiana State University, after beginning her collegiate career at West Virginia University, where she studied Communications. Her career accolades include: 2021 MVP, BSNF Puerto Rico League Big East All-Academic Team Big 12 All-Academic Team SEC All-Community Service Team She is also the founder of The Bethel League, based in Baltimore, Maryland. The league is designed to promote and empower young women in the DMV community and operates as a certified NCAA summer basketball league. A Baltimore, Maryland native, Bethel brings a dynamic and diverse background that will be a major asset to the program.

Anthony Angotti joins Sade Jackson’s staff as an assistant coach for the 2025–26 season. Angotti previously served as an assistant coach for the Panthers from 2018 to 2021. He returns to the program after a three-year stint (2021–2024) as an assistant coach with the Army West Point women’s basketball team. During his time at West Point, Angotti took on a wide range of responsibilities, including player development and quality control, on-court instruction, offensive and defensive rebounding strategies, and the implementation of the team’s transition offense. Since 2006, Angotti has also been active in youth basketball, coaching across various AAU and youth organizations. He has developed and led basketball clinics focused on enhancing fundamental skills. In addition, Angotti has worked as a quality assurance reviewer for Championship Productions’ basketball video content since 2015 and completed a 12-month program dedicated to developing advanced basketball scouting skills. Before his basketball coaching career, Angotti was an assistant golf professional and teaching pro. He owned and operated his own golf instruction facilities. A 1990 graduate of St. John's University with a degree in accounting, Angotti earned his New York State basketball coaching certification from SUNY Cortland in 2016. He also holds an associate’s degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management from The Golf Academy of the South (1996). He currently resides in Woodbury, New York.

Anthony Angotti joins Sade Jackson’s staff as an assistant coach for the 2025–26 season. Angotti previously served as an assistant coach for the Panthers from 2018 to 2021. He returns to the program after a three-year stint (2021–2024) as an assistant coach with the Army West Point women’s basketball team. During his time at West Point, Angotti took on a wide range of responsibilities, including player development and quality control, on-court instruction, offensive and defensive rebounding strategies, and the implementation of the team’s transition offense. Since 2006, Angotti has also been active in youth basketball, coaching across various AAU and youth organizations. He has developed and led basketball clinics focused on enhancing fundamental skills. In addition, Angotti has worked as a quality assurance reviewer for Championship Productions’ basketball video content since 2015 and completed a 12-month program dedicated to developing advanced basketball scouting skills. Before his basketball coaching career, Angotti was an assistant golf professional and teaching pro. He owned and operated his own golf instruction facilities. A 1990 graduate of St. John's University with a degree in accounting, Angotti earned his New York State basketball coaching certification from SUNY Cortland in 2016. He also holds an associate’s degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management from The Golf Academy of the South (1996). He currently resides in Woodbury, New York.

On May 17, 2021, Adelphi University Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation Danny McCabe announced that Sade Jackson '14 will return to her alma mater as the 12th head coach in the program's history. She appeared in 110 games as a Panther from 2010-14 and is one of only 22 players in the program's history to reach 1,000 career points. Jackson posted lifetime averages of 10.8 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game, to go along with 20 career double-doubles and three triple-doubles. Her 6.1 assist-per-game average is tied for 24th all-time in Division II history and her career assist record stands at 673, which is second-most all-time in the Northeast 10 Conference. "I am so grateful for the opportunity to return to my alma mater and lead the women's basketball program," commented Jackson. "Adelphi was extremely influential in my development -- not only as a student-athlete -- but also as a person and I am excited for the chance to extend this experience to our current and future student-athletes." In five years at the helm, Jackson helped mold Emily Miccile (2021-22) and Lauren Beberman (2025-26) into NE10 Defensive Player of the Year selections, to accompany four all-conference selections, three all-defensive team choices, and one all-rookie honoree. She has led the team to five straight appearances in the conference tournament, and posted the program's best finish under her leadership in the 2024-25 season when they made the semifinal round.  Beberman and Christina Sanchez were the duo to lead the NE10 in steals during the 2025-26 season, as Beberman also led the league in blocks. In 2022-23, Ty'zhea Hawkins became the first Panther since the 2013-14 campaign to lead the conference in scoring.  Prior to her return to Adelphi, Jackson spent two seasons as an assistant coach under former Adelphi head women's basketball coach Heather Jacobs at Division I Wagner College in Staten Island. During her time with the Seahawks, the team ranked among the top two in the Northeast Conference (NEC) in several statistical categories, while finishing 21st nationally in turnovers forced, as the Wagner defense created 19.8 turnovers per contest by the opposition. In her first season on staff in 2019-20, Wagner finished the year among the top-three in the NEC in assists (13.8 apg, third) and turnover margin (+0.70, third). Additionally, the Seahawks ranked fourth in steals, averaging 8.0 a contest.  "We are thrilled to welcome Sade Jackson back to Adelphi. She is one of the all-time great Panthers and we couldn't be more happy to have her lead our women's basketball program," said McCabe. "Sade was always a 'coach' on the floor when she played for Adelphi and graduated as the program's all-time assist leader. She is a relationship-builder that will work with our student-athletes to help them maximize their basketball skills while providing a great college experience."   Following a one-year stint on staff with the Panthers in 2015-16, Jackson earned her first head coaching position at the Pratt Institute, where -- in two seasons -- she led the team to its highest win total in program history (2017) and saw three student-athletes earn All-Conference accolades. While there, she also became the department's Associate Athletic Director for Events and Facilities, and was named Senior Woman Administrator.  "I'd like to thank Danny McCabe and the search committee for entrusting me to continue to build upon the success of the program and I cannot wait to begin this journey." Jackson's Year-by-Year Coaching Record Year -Overall- -Conference- -Notes- W-L Pct. W-L 2021-22 12-12 .500 10-8 NE10 NE10 First Round 2022-23 10-16 .385 7-13 NE10 NE10 First Round 2023-24 7-22 .241 5-17 NE10 NE10 First Round 2024-25 15-15 .500 9-11 NE10 NE10 Semifinals 2025-26 13-13 .500 7-11 NE10 NE10 Quarterfinals 5 Seasons 57-78 .422 38-60