LHU’s WBB: Jennifer Smith named WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year Finalist

ATLANTA – After leading the Lock Haven women’s basketball team to a record-breaking season and a trip to the NCAA DII Tournament, Bald Eagle head coach Jennifer Smith was named a finalist for the 2023-24 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division II Coach of the Year.

Smith guided the Bald Eagles to an historic season in 2023-24, which finished with the program’s first NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region Semifinal appearance in over three decades.

The Bald Eagles finished with a program-record 29 victories, a PSAC East regular season title, a 21-1 conference mark and the first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1991. Lock Haven’s run of 19 consecutive victories from earlier this season was also a program-record. Lock Haven’s four loses all came at the hands of NCAA Tournament teams.

The Bald Eagles also reached the NCAA DII WBCA and CSC National Rankings for the first time in program history.

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, Smith became the all-time winningest head coach in Lock Haven Bald Eagle women’s basketball history with 162 career victories. She surpassed Frank Scarfo’s (1986-97) previous record of 161 and will enter next season 172 Lock Haven coaching wins.

Following the regular season, Alana Robinson (First Team, Defensive Player of the Year), Jenadia Jordan (First Team) and Rhlyn Rouse (Freshman of the Year, Second Team) were honored as members of the All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Teams.

Robinson was also named a Second Team All-Atlantic Region Forward.

Georgia Southwestern University head coach Hana Haden was named the 2024 WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year. Haden will receive the Pat Summitt Trophy, named for the late legendary University of Tennessee coach and awarded annually to the coaches of the year in each of the WBCA’s membership divisions.

This year’s finalists for WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year were:

LeAnn Freeland (Nova Southeastern University)

Hana Haden (Georgia Southwestern State University)

Beth Jillson (Texas Woman’s University)

Kari Pickens (Ashland University)

Thomas Shirley (Thomas Jefferson University)

Jennifer Smith (Lock Haven)

The WBCA NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, Player of the Year and Coaches’ All-America team are selected by the WBCA NCAA Division II Awards Committee from coaches and student-athletes who are nominated by WBCA member coaches.

Visit WBCA.org to see a list of past recipients of each award.

About the WBCA

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.