Buffalo State University Athletics

Hired at Buffalo State:	August 2022
Prior to Buffalo State:	Assistant Coach - Baylor University (2021-22)
	Assistant Coach - Gannon University (2017-21)
Alma Mater:	Alderson Broaddus University '17 (Bachelor's)
	Gannon University '21 (Master's)

Alia Stark completed her second season leading the acrobatics & tumbling program in 2025 and oversaw improvements in nearly every event including a program-record overall score of 197.550 against Duquesne.

Stark comes to Buffalo State after a year-long stint in Waco, TX as assistant coach for national powerhouse Baylor University and legendary acrobatics and tumbling coach Felecia Mulkey. She helped lead the Bears to a perfect 11-0 record and the 2022 National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) National Championship.

While at Baylor, Stark coached three All-Americans, including NCATA Division I Athlete of the Year Emily Tobin and NCATA Division I Specialist of the Year Bayley Humphrey. She also served as an academic liaison for the program, helping to guide her student-athletes to a 3.36 cumulative GPA in the spring semester and Academic All-America honors for one student-athlete, Kamryn Kitchens. 

Prior to Baylor, Stark spent four years as an assistant coach at Gannon University. During her time at Gannon, the Golden Knights reached a NCATA poll-ranking of fifth in the country, and qualified for the 2018 and 2019 NCATA Championship tournament as one of the nation's top eight programs. She also coached the Golden Knights to a national championship in the 2018
inversion pyramid event.

Stark completed her master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gannon in 2021.

An excellent student-athlete herself, Stark starred for the acrobatics and tumbling team at Alderson Broaddus University from its inaugural season in 2013 until her graduation. She earned a trio of NCATA All-American honors from 2015-17, and won a pair of national titles, including the open toss national championship in 2016, and the 7-element acro event in 2015.

Stark graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science in 2017, boasting a 3.65 cumulative GPA with Dean's List recognition in six semesters. She was also recognized as the Battlers' Senior Female Athlete of the Year, and earned ECAC All-Conference and All-Academic team honors.    

NCATA All-Tournament Team Selections:	5
NCATA Academic Honor Roll Selections:	13

Buffalo State	Overall Record	Year-End Finish
2025	2-6 (.250)	- -
2024	1-8 (.111)	- -
Overall at Buffalo State (2 seasons	3-14 (.176)	- -

 

(UPDATED 5/23/25)