Coaching Experience
• Associate Head Coach, Cornell (2026-pres.)
• Assistant Coach, Cornell (2025-26)
• Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Fresno State (2021-25)
• Assistant Coach, UMBC (2016-19)
• Assistant Coach, Vermont (2012-16)
Playing Experience
• Vermont (2006-10)
Education
• University of Vermont (2010)
At Cornell
Courtnay joined the Cornell women's basketball coaching staff prior to the 2025-26 season. She helped the Big Red improve quickly in points per game (54.4), threes per game (5.6), 3-point field goal percentage (31.8), assists per game (13.8), and steals per game (6.4) from year one to year two. Cornell ranked among the Ivy League's best in several statistical categories, finishing with the second-best 3-point shooting percentage (31.8), second-fewest fouls per game (13.1), third-fewest turnovers per game (15.5), fourth-most bench points per game (14.4), fourth-most assists per game (13.8), fourth-best assist/turnover ratio (0.89), and fifth-best field goal percentage (39.1).
Prior to Cornell
Pilypaitis joins Cornell after serving as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Fresno State University since 2021, where she helped develop multiple Mountain West all-conference selections and 1,000-point scorers. During her tenure with the Bulldogs, she coached and recruited All Mountain West player and 1,000-point scorer Amaya West, and was instrumental in recruiting efforts that brought in the program's first team member named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award watch list.
Prior to Fresno State, Pilypaitis spent three seasons (2016-2019) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) as assistant coach and international recruiting coordinator. At UMBC, she coached four America East honorees, including Taylor McCarley, a two-time first team selection who ended her career ranking in the top five in UMBC's history in scoring, assists and steals.
From 2012-2016, Pilypaitis served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Vermont, where she helped recruit and mentor three America East All-Conference team selections, including a defensive player of the year and all-time block leader.
Playing Career
As a player, Pilypaitis competed professionally, including a seven-year stint with Team Canada where she participated in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and on multiple world championship teams. She also played for Vici-Aistes of the Euroleague where she was named Import Player of the Year and Guard of the Year.
Pilypaitis was a standout player at the University of Vermont from 2006-2010, where she served as a three-year captain and two-time NCAA tournament participant. She finished her career a three-time America East first team selection, first in program history in games played, 3-point makes, triple doubles and assists, while ranking third in scoring and rebounding.
