OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson women's basketball head coach Casey Filliault announced the hiring of Tori Lesko as the program's full-time assistant coach on Monday morning.
Lesko is no stranger to the Mustangs, having served as a volunteer assistant coach during the 2025-26 season.
"I couldn't be happier to welcome Tori to my staff. Her love for the game, playing experience, and coaching background make her an incredible addition to what we are building here at Stevenson," said Filliault. "She will be a tremendous resource for our student-athletes and an important part of our program moving forward. I'm excited for what's ahead!"
Lesko brings a unique combination of coaching experience and mental performance expertise to Stevenson. In addition to her basketball background, she is a licensed social worker who has worked extensively with athletes ranging from youth to professional levels. She currently works at Versus Ridge Counseling, providing therapy to a diverse client base addressing anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, identity, performance-related stress, life transitions, and relationship conflict.
During her year as a volunteer assistant with the Mustangs, Lesko played an integral role in player development, particularly with the team's post players. She assisted with film breakdown, individual workouts, game preparation, and scouting efforts while also incorporating mental skills training to help student-athletes strengthen their mindset and on-court performance.
Prior to Stevenson, Lesko worked at Penn State University as a Performance Therapist, providing one-on-one clinical mental health counseling and performance support to high-level student-athletes. While at Penn State, she also served as an assistant coach at Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy, helping guide the varsity program to an Elite Eight appearance in the PIAA State Playoffs.
Before her time at Penn State, Lesko was an assistant coach at Wesley Chapel High School, where she helped lead the program to a 23-6 record and a 5A District 6 Championship. In that role, she oversaw skill development for both post players and guards through film study, individualized instruction, and team training sessions.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with Coach Casey and to provide continuity as we enter a new era of the program," said Lesko. "I am excited for the growth of the group we have returning and for the experiences and knowledge that Casey will bring to our team."
Lesko earned her bachelor's degree in Social Work and English from Iona College, where she was a four-year member of the NCAA Division I women's basketball team and served as team captain. She later earned master's degrees in Social Work and Business Administration from Saint Leo University while continuing her playing career as a two-year captain of the women's basketball program.
