Newly appointed Ithaca College women’s basketball head coach Erin Hughes has selected Jess Smith as her assistant coach heading into the 2026-27 season. Smith starts at Ithaca on June 22.
“I am thrilled to welcome Jess Smith to our program! Jess was a phenomenal Division III player and remains passionate about the transformative and holistic student-athlete experience,” said Hughes. Her love for the game, positive energy, and relentless drive will elevate everyone in our program. Jess has a bright future in coaching, and we are excited to see her immediate impact as a Bomber!”
Smith comes to South Hill after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant at Haverford College and other professional experiences as an Academic Support & UNITAS Intern with Villanova Athletics as well working with the Dallas Wings of the WNBA in 2024 to help organize camps and clinics in her home state for California.
In her role at Villanova, Smith worked closely with student-athletes on their academic and athletic development and contributed to UNITAS, an initiative focused on fostering inclusion, belonging, and holistic growth within the athletic community.
Smith is a 2025 graduate of Bryn Mawr College where she was a four-year standout with the basketball program. She played and started in 74 games and accumulated 1125 points with 474 rebounds. Smith was a two-time All-Centennial Conference Second Team selection during her time as a student-athlete where she also served as team captain, co-president of the Bryn Mawr Athletic Alliance, and head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
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