June 13, 2011
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Navy women's basketball head coach Stefanie Pemper announced today the addition of Alison Smith to the program's coaching staff.
"I couldn't be happier about Alison joining our staff," said Pemper. "She is hard-working, smart and a talented young coach. She connects with players very effectively and her values on and off the court really match mine. Alison was a special part of our program at Bowdoin. She was a tough competitor, incredibly reliable and had a selfless spirit that did wonders for team morale. Alison was a leader who willed our team to win and I'm confident she'll exude those qualities to the women on our team. I'm grateful to Bowdoin coach Adrienne Shibles and others up in Brunswick for helping develop Alison as a coach and educator the past three years."
Smith is a 2005 graduate of Bowdoin where she was a four-year starter for the basketball team under the program's then-head coach Pemper. She helped lead the Polar Bears to four conference titles, was part of the team's run to the 2004 NCAA Division III national championship game and served as the captain of the program during her senior season.
After graduating from Bowdoin with a bachelor's degree in psychology Smith went on to attain a master's degree in social work from the Boston College School of Social Work in 2007. She then began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Bowdoin in the summer of 2008. The program compiled a 70-18 record over the last three years and advanced to the Sweet 16 in both the 2010 and 2011 NCAA Tournaments.
"I am thrilled by this opportunity," said Smith. "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Stef and her staff, who have accomplished so much in just three seasons. It is such an exciting time for the program and I am eager to begin working with these motivated and talented student-athletes. I am inspired by and identify with the Naval Academy and its mission, which sets a standard of excellence in leadership."
Smith will be filling the vacancy on the staff that was created when three-year assistant coach Julie Veilleux left to become the head coach at Colby. Veilleux originally served as an assistant coach to Pemper for three years at Bowdoin before becoming the initial hire for Pemper at Navy in the summer of 2008. The Mids posted a 53-41 record during Veilleux's three seasons on The Yard, a span capped off by this year's team becoming the first in Navy history to win the Patriot League Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament.
"I am very excited for Julie to take over her own program and return home to her wonderful family in Maine," said Pemper. "Over the past six years she has developed tremendously as a basketball coach and a leader, and she will be terrific at Colby. As important as recent graduates Angela Myers and Cassie Consedine were to the success our program experienced the past three years, so was Julie's hard work, great attitude and loyalty. We are losing a very special colleague and a great friend."
