DR. GAIL F. MALONEY
Buffalo State College Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Administration
Dr. Gail F. Maloney is probably best remembered for her incredible run as women’s basketball coach at Buffalo State College, having posted 374 wins in her 21-year career. And rightfully so.
But talk to her and Maloney will tell you that she’s just as proud of her administrative role at the Elmwood Avenue campus, including her steadfast oversight of Title IX, as well as her large role – some would say insistence – in adding a host of women’s intercollegiate athletic programs at the school. In fact, in her 31 years at the college, which included administrative roles as Assistant Athletics Director, Senior Associate Athletics Director and/or Senior Women‘s Administrator, Maloney’s influence was instrumental in six women’s programs being added at Buffalo State: softball, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, cross country and ice hockey.
That said, it is basketball – winning basketball – that brought fame to Maloney. Consider that in those 21 years on the hardwood, Maloney’s teams posted an incredible .710 winning percentage (374-154), the highest of any team sport – men or women – in the history of the school. In fact, one would be hard-pressed to find a higher winning percentage of any college basketball coach ever in Western New York – men or women.
Maloney’s Bengals played in all 16 conference championships held during her tenure, reaching the championship final 12 times and winning the conference title seven times. For her work, she was honored as Coach of the Year three times and was the WBCA District II Coach of the Year once. Her numbers are amazing. She posted winning seasons in 19 of her 21 years on the bench and won 20 or more games in ten of those 21 years even though in three of the years, the Bengals played 20 games or less. Upon retiring from coaching, she ranked 12th in the nation among active coaches in wins and was honored by the NCAA as “One of Women’s Basketball’s Finest,” a prestigious honor given by college athletics’ administrative body. Maloney is also quick to remind you that, as the field hockey coach at Amherst HS in the mid 70’s, her teams won three Section VI championships, including a 19-0 record one season.
Off the field, Maloney was an active member on many boards and committees, including the NCAA Softball Committee. She is also a recipient of the State University of New York’s Chancellor Award for Excellence in Professional Service, the Buffalo State College President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service, and the State University of New York Athletic Conference Distinguished Service Award.
The biographies contained on this website were written at the time of the honoree’s induction into the Hall of Fame. No attempt has been made to update these narratives to reflect more recent events, activities, or statistics.
