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Stern was named the new head coach of the Gallaudet University men's basketball program on June 13, 2012. Stern ascends to the top position of the GU men's basketball program after playing four years as an undergraduate, served as an assistant coach for three years and most recently guided the Gallaudet women's basketball program for one season.
Stern compiled an 8-16 record and 6-12 mark in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) during the 2011-12 season for the Bison women's basketball team. He coached one all-conference player in Britny Latham (Cleveland, Tenn.), who was named to the All-NEAC third team. He was hired as the women's head coach on September 13, 2011. Gallaudet won three of its final four games to end the season, which included a three-game winning streak. Stern earned his first victory as a collegiate head coach on November 27, 2011, when the Bison defeated D'Youville, 66-59, in the consolation game of the GU Holiday Tournament.
Stern served as an assistant men's basketball coach from 2008-11 where the Bison accumulated a 33-47 overall record and 14-36 record in conference games. The 2010-11 season was the first for the Bison in the NEAC as Gallaudet went 12-6 in conference play and advanced to the NEAC semifinals. That same team set a program record for wins in a season (17) dating back to 1904 and advanced to its first-ever postseason appearance as the Bison participated in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South tournament.
Stern, who is deaf, played four years for the Bison men's basketball program where he started three seasons and was a three-time captain. He graduated from GU in 2006 and since then has earned master degrees from American University and Catholic University of America. He is currently working on his Ph.D. in American Politics at CUA. Stern has been teaching American Politics at Gallaudet University for the past four years.
Stern's background as a basketball player is vast and his experience should help him relate to what current Bison student-athletes or potential recruits have experienced. The California native started playing basketball at a hearing Catholic Youth League without an interpreter while attending California School for the Deaf in Fremont before transfering to University High School, a large public high school in California, where he had an interpreter but was the only deaf player on his team. Stern also has playing experience after Gallaudet as he played for Team USA in the Deaflympics and is still playing at the club level. He envisions his experience as a player and a coach will transcend well to coaching men's basketball.
Stern resides in the Brookland neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
