 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Drury promoted to head coach of Heron hoops-
 |
Lindsay Drury |
April 21, 2006
GENEVA, N.Y.—William Smith Director of Athletics Deb Steward announced the promotion of Basketball Interim Head Coach Lindsay Drury to head coach. Drury has been a part of the William Smith basketball coaching staff since 2003.
“Coach Drury has been instrumental in the success of William Smith basketball in the past three years,” Steward said. “She has progressed through the coaching ranks and has earned the opportunity to be the head coach. She’s an excellent teacher and a quality leader. Coach Drury has the enthusiasm and passion to honor the proud tradition of Heron Athletics.”
Drury was appointed the interim head coach in October of 2005, following the sudden resignation of Olympia Scott just days before the start of the season. Drury made the most of the opportunity, leading William Smith to a 22-6 overall record, the Liberty League regular season and tournament championships, and the program’s 10th NCAA Tournament appearance. Drury’s 22 wins are the most by a Herons hoops boss in her first season, surpassing the mark set the year before by Scott (20-8).
Drury and her assistants were named the 2006 Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote of the League’s coaches. It’s the second straight season the award has been presented to Drury as a member of the William Smith coaching staff.
In the NCAA Tournament, Drury led the Herons past St. John Fisher in the first round 69-62, before falling at 12th-ranked Baldwin-Wallace 71-65. The victory over the Cardinals marked the eighth consecutive time William Smith has won its opening round match up.
Drury began her collegiate coaching career as a Heron assistant in 2003-04, when William Smith finished 13-13 and earned a spot in the ECAC Upstate Tournament.
A 2001 graduate of Kalamazoo College, Drury earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and social relations. She also spent a semester studying Mexican history, language, art, and culture at Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca.
A two-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association selection, Drury is one of the top basketball players in Hornets history. She graduated 11th on the college’s career scoring list with 718 points, and was just the fourth player to record more than 500 rebounds. Drury averaged 7.1 ppg and 5.0 rpg, playing in 101 career games. She served as a team captain during both her junior and senior seasons.
William Smith returns nine letter winners and two starters for the 2006-07 season, including three All-Liberty League selections: junior guard Paula Foote (Sidney/Sidney, N.Y.), sophomore forward Stephanie Czajkowski (Bishop Ludden/Syracuse, N.Y.), and sophomore guard Marisa Vespa (Immaculate Heart/Watertown, N.Y.).