June 21, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

 Lynn Hersey Named Smith College Basketball Coach

Northampton, MA:  Director of Athletics, Lynn Oberbillig, announced today that Lynn M. Hersey has been appointed basketball coach at Smith College. The women’s basketball co-head coach at Amherst College for the past two seasons, Hersey will assume her duties at Smith on July 1.

      Hersey received her Bachelor of Science Degree with major in Physical Education and minor in Health from Plymouth State University in 2000 and her Master of Science Degree in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts in 2003. A four-year basketball player while at Plymouth State, Hersey captained the team her senior year and received the Panther Athletic Club Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year award in 1999.

      While at Amherst, she served as the volleyball assistant coach from 2003-04, softball assistant coach from 2002-07 and basketball assistant coach for four years before taking on the responsibilities of co-head coach in 2005. She also served as an instructor in the Physical Education Department and as a Residential Life area coordinator under the Dean of Students Office. Hersey served as Assistant Director for both the Amherst Nike Girls Basketball Camp and the Amherst College Summer Programs Office. She holds memberships in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association and has served on various committees while at Amherst.

      “We welcome Lynn Hersey to the Smith side of the Connecticut River.  Lynn's experiences as co-head coach at Amherst will be invaluable to her ability to build Smith's basketball program,” said Oberbillig.  “Lynn knows our competitors, she knows the NEWMAC conference schools, and she has a recruiting network that will bring talented student-athletes to Smith.  We are thrilled to have her here.”