Siena Women’s Basketball Head Coach Ali Jaques has announced a pair of additions to her staff for the upcoming 2014-15 season. Bridgette Mitchell joins Stephanie McCormick as an assistant coach and Christina Richardson has been named the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations.
"The two new members of our program have one thing in common – they have won championships," said Jaques, who enters her third season as coach. "Our goal at Siena will always be to win a championship. Our players will definitely embrace the new energy that these women bring to our program. I am excited to have the chance to officially welcome them to our great community here at Siena."
Mitchell matriculates to Loudonville after beginning her coaching career as an assistant at Wagner College last season. A native of Trenton, N.J., Mitchell starred at Duke University where she appeared in 131 games including 43 career starts and earned her B.A. in Sociology in 2010.
Mitchell was team captain her senior year, helping guide the Blue Devils to an ACC Championship and the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. She was a three-time ACC Honor Roll selection and was named to the 2010 ACC All-Academic Team.
"We are excited to welcome Bridgette to the Siena community," commented Jaques. "She has an infectious personality with tremendous passion and intensity for the game of basketball. Her playing experience at Duke and on the professional level will be tremendous for our team."
Mitchell played professionally in France for Villeneuve d’Ascq (2010) and for Energa Torun in Poland where she led the team to a bronze medal and appearance in the European Championships in 2011-12. She signed a training camp contract with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm in 2011.
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"I’m excited about the prospect of coming in and joining this program," noted Mitchell. "I’m really competitive and I don’t like to lose. I hope to transfer those qualities to the student athletes in our program. I want to help light their fire and get the competitive cauldron boiling. Winning is contagious and it starts with hard work in the offseason. I can’t wait to get started."
Prior to attending Duke, Mitchell played prep basketball at The Peddie School where she was named a McDonald’s All-American and was awarded the 2006 Naismith Sportsmanship Award. She was also a Parade All-American as well as the 2006 Gatorade Player of the Year for New Jersey.
Christina Richardson
A native of Katy, Texas, Richardson spent the entirety of her undergraduate career as the women’s basketball student manager, working under Hall of Fame Head Coach Gary Blair at Texas A&M University. As a freshman, she was a key figure behind the scenes for a Texas A&M program that won the 2011 National Championship.
"Christina has worked alongside some of the best coaches in our game on Gary Blair’s staff," noted Jaques. "We are happy to have her in the Green and Gold!"
During her senior season, Richardson completed an internship with the program in which she worked closely with and assisted the Aggies’ Director of Women’s Basketball Operations. Among her duties, she helped run and manage the Coach Gary Blair Charities Golf Tournament and assisted in the team’s budgeting, travel, video breakdown and equipment orders.
Richardson graduated from Texas A&M last month with her B.S. in Sports Management with a minor in Business Administration. A member of the International Dean’s List Society, she was named to Sigma Alpha Lambda, the National Leadership and Honors Organization.
"I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to move up north and join the Siena family," said Richardson. "Coach Jaques is an excellent coach with a fierce determination to win and I can’t wait to work with her. I have already fallen in love with the family atmosphere that Siena has to offer."
Siena returns three starters and eight letterwinners and welcomes five newcomers to a team which posted a 9-22 overall record last season.
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