Connecticut College has turned to a former Division I basketball player from Connecticut with connections to one of UConn's most famous players to lead its women's basketball program.
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Athletic director Fran Shields announced that Jackie Smith, who played for and coached with Jennifer Rizzotti, will be the Camels' new women's basketball head coach.
"We are very excited to welcome Jackie Smith into our community," said Shields in the College's release. "We are confident that she can take a healthy existing program even higher given her great mentors as well as her valuable coaching and recruiting experience."
Smith spent the last five seasons on the coaching staff of Jennifer Rizzotti at the University of Hartford and George Washington University. Rizzotti was a decorated point guard at the University of Connecticut from 1992-1996 and a teammate of Tufts head coach Carla Berube on the Huskies' 1995 Division I national championship team.
Smith played four seasons at Hartford and was a two-time captain for the Hawks. Hartford won three conference titles, made two NCAA Tournaments and was nationally ranked during Smith's time at the University.
"I am thrilled about this opportunity, and I would like to thank Fran Shields and his committee for welcoming me to Connecticut College," said Smith. "I am also thankful to be taking over a program which has dedicated student-athletes that have had success in the classroom and on the court, and I look forward to building upon what former head coach Brian Wilson was able to accomplish."
Wilson stepped down from his position in May to take an assistant coaching job at Division I Quinnipiac. He went 121-96 over nine seasons with the Camels.
Connecticut College went 15-9, 4-6 in the NESCAC last season.