Chowan University Athletics

Olivia Gaither enters her third season as an assistant coach with the Chowan University women's basketball program and her second as a full-time member of the athletic department. The Chowan University Department of Athletics was proud to announce Chowan alumna, Olivia Gaither, as its next assistant women's basketball coach in on May 21, 2024. 

During the 2024-2025 season, Gaither help assist the Hawks to a 19-6 overall record and a 15-5 record in league play. The Hawks made their sixth straight appearance in the Conference Carolinas Championship earning a spot in the D2CSC Women's Basketball Poll, ranking 8th.The Hawks were a force to be reckoned with on the NCAA leader board this season. Ranked 1st in field goal percentage defense, 1st in rebound margin, 2nd in offensive rebounds, 2nd in rebounds per game, 5th in scoring defense, 18th in bench points per game, 34th in winning percentage, and 35th in steals per game. Yasmine Brown and Meara Carter both earned All-Conference recognition, as Brown earned Second Team All-Conference and Carter earned a spot on the All-Defensive team. 

Olivia graduated from Chowan University in 2022 after four-year playing career for the blue and white. Olivia, a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia and graduate of Colonial Forge High School, helped to lead the Hawks to a Conference Carolinas semi-final appearance in her senior season. The Hawks finished up 18-10 in her senior season, where she posted 6.5 points an outing to go with 5.0 rebounds per game. Olivia posted 18 blocks in 28 season starts for the Hawks that same year. 

Olivia was hired immediately after graduating from Chowan in the summer of 2022 as an admissions counselor. In 2023, Olivia accepted a position with Liberty University as an Academic Advisor. Not wanting to get too far from the sport she loved, Olivia served as a volunteer assistant coach under Coach Fraizer during the 2023-2024 season. Olivia assisted the Hawks to a 13-10 overall record with a 13-5 Conference Carolinas record. The Hawks finished the end of the season in strong fashion, posting a 5-2 record in the month of February.