Coaches
Head Coach
Valerie Stambersky is entering her eleventh year as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College. In that time, Stambersky has made tremendous strides with the women’s basketball program. The graduation rate of her student-athletes has increased two fold and the reputation of Stambersky’s student-athletes has improved tremendously -- to the point where they are considered “class acts”. In fact, last year’s squad finished 14th in the nation with a team cumulative grade point average of 3.29 for junior colleges. The year prior, they finished 23rd. These profound measures in academics and character are paving the way for an inevitably successful KCK Women’s Basketball program.
Stambersky has contributed to the basketball development of multiple student-athletes during her tenure. Twenty-eight of her former student-athletes have received basketball scholarships to play at the next level. Eleven of those individuals received scholarships to NAIA Division II institutions, six to NAIA Division I institutions, five to NCAA Division II institutions, and six to NCAA Division I institutions. As an indication to the direction the program is heading, an NCAA Division I scholarship recipient has graduated from KCK the past four out of five years, including NJCAA All-American Stephanie Brown (University of Missouri-Kansas City), NJCAA Academic All-American Mara Hoefer (Montana State University-Bozeman), two time KJCCC Honorable Mention Lindsey Newpher (Florida Gulf Coast), KJCCC Second Team Brittany Graham (Georgia State University), and KJCCC Honorable Mention Anne Borgertpoepping (Western Illinois University).
Prior to coming to KCKCC on June 1, 1999, Stambersky served as a Graduate Assistant at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Stambersky earned a BA in Criminal Justice while graduating with distinction from Ferris State University in 1998. In July 1999, Stambersky graduated with highest distinction from Ferris State University with a Master’s Degree in Correctional Administration.
A native of Salem, Ohio, Stambersky won just about every prep honor possible as a high school senior. Averaging 19.3 points per game, she was all-conference, conference player of the year, all-county, county player of the year, first team all-district, district player of the year, first team all-state and state co-player of the year. Stambersky chose Ferris State University, an NCAA Division II college, over several other colleges following high school.
While at Ferris, Stambersky was a four-year starter and co-captain for three years. She was a three time Great Lakes Inter Athletic Conference All-Academic selection, a two year all conference player, team MVP her junior and senior year, and was selected to the GTE All-Academic Region Team as a senior. Stambersky holds several records at Ferris including 3 point field goals in a season (72), 3 point field goal attempts in a career (598), 3 point field goal percentage (34.4%), free throw percentage in a season (91.2%), consecutive free throws (32), all time leader in steals (253), and is ranked fourth in scoring in school history (1,304).
Valerie Stambersky currently coaches and teaches at KCKCC while residing in Platte City, Missouri with her husband Damian, son Taylor and daughter Tyler.
Assistant Coach
Alicia Roth is entering her sixth year as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College. Roth is actively involved in recruiting, individual player development, community relations, and the production of camps and clinics. Prior to coaching at KCKCC, Roth was the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa from 2002-2004.
In May of 2000, Roth earned her Bachelor of Arts from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Roth then moved to Iowa City where she earned her Master of Arts in Education from the University of Iowa. Roth utilizes both degrees to teach part time in the Exercise Science and Social Science Departments at KCKCC.
While at Buena Vista University, Roth was a two sport athlete participating in basketball and softball for the NCAA Division III School within the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. As a four year letter winner and captain her senior season, Roth ended her career as the record holder for free throw percentage at BVU (81.3 %). She was also ranked 12th in 3 point field goals made (54), 16th in 3 point field goal percentage (32.3%), and 21st in assists (141). Roth also contributed to the following team successes while at BVU: 1997 Conference Championship Title, 1997 NCAA Sweet Sixteen Tournament appearance, and the 1998 Women’s Softball NCAA Tournament appearance. In addition, Roth earned Academic All-American honors in 1998 and received the Harriet Henry Dedicated Athlete Award in 2000 for her integrity, sportsmanship, perseverance, and academic excellence.
A native of Panora, Iowa, Roth was a standout high school athlete at Panorama High School holding multiple records and receiving various honors for her accomplishments. Roth, however, is most proud of participating in the Iowa High School Girls State Basketball Tournament in 1993, 1995 & 1996.
Alicia Roth currently resides in Kansas City, Kansas with her husband Landon and children Gannon and Abbie.
Assistant Coach
Tony Armstrong joins the Kansas City Kansas Community College Women’s Basketball Program after an impressive 24 years of coaching high school girls and boys basketball in Missouri. Armstrong a high school boy’s basketball coach for Marionville (‘79-’83), West Plains (‘83-’85), Aurora (‘85-’88), and Lamar (‘88-’98) made history as he lead Marionville to a Class 2 State Championship in 1982 for its first ever state basketball title. Armstrong continued to make history as he also found success at Lamar by guiding his ‘92-’93 team to its first conference and district titles in the same year.
After a short break from coaching to be a dad to his daughter Jenna and son Sean in the late 1990s, Armstrong reentered the coaching scene as a varsity girls basketball coach at Stockton (‘98-’04). In three short seasons, he lead Stockton to its first ever conference championship in girls basketball and the school’s first ever basketball state title in 2001. Stockton actually secured the conference title all six seasons during Armstrong’s tenure and compiled two more Girls State Basketball Championships for Missouri Class 3 in 2003 and 2004. After an outstanding coaching display at Stockton and a reputation of building basketball programs, Armstrong jumped at the opportunity to become the head girl’s basketball coach at Blue Springs High School. He was hired in 2004 and in four years, won two conference championships, a district title, and increased basketball camp enrollment from 4 to 58 campers.
Armstrong compiled a girls coaching record of 228 wins and 57 losses in ten seasons. He led his teams to conference championships all but two of those seasons and secured district titles district titles five times. Most notably, Armstrong garnered a third place state finish and three state basketball championships. Combine those three titles with his boy’s state title earlier in his coaching career and he has clinched an impressive four state basketball titles. Armstrong’s stellar accomplishments presently have him in the Missouri State High School Activities Association history books as one of two coaches to win state titles as both a boys’ and girls’ coach.
Given Armstrong’s accomplishments it is no surprise he’s been named Missouri State High School Coach of the Year four times and was a nominee for the National High School Coaches Association National Girl’s Coach of the Year Award in 2003. In addition, he’s been a head coach in Missouri State Hall of Fame All-Star Games three times. Armstrong has had the privilege of sharing his knowledge with various colleges and organizations over the years and works diligently assisting youth on the fundamentals of basketball in his spare time.
Armstrong graduated with a B.S. and a M.S. from Missouri State University where he was a member and co-captain of the men’s basketball team his senior year. Armstrong resides in Blue Springs, Missouri with his wife Terre. Jenna is actively pursuing her doctorate at the University of Washington after a collegiate basketball career at the University of Iowa. Sean is a junior at Colorado School of Mines and member of the men’s basketball team. After retiring in 2008, Armstrong decided to shift gears yet again and tackle college women’s basketball with hopes of adding to his proven record of making history and building top-notch programs.
For more information e-mail Valerie Stambersky.