ATLANTA, Ga. (March 18, 2003) -- RUSSELL ATHLETIC and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) have selected Stephanie Smith, Wabash Valley College head coach, as the 2003 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA JC/CC National Coach of the Year. Smith becomes the 21st coach in history to receive this accolade, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1983

Coach Smith is in her 12th season at Wabash Valley College. This year she led the Lady Warriors to the Region XXIV and GRAC Championship, finishing the season with a 31-2 record. Wabash, 4th seed, will face North Dakota State College of Science, 13th seed, at 2 o'clock on Wednesday, March 19, at the NJCAA National Tournament in Salina, Kansas.

"RUSSELL ATHLETIC would like to congratulate Wabash Valley College head coach Stephanie Smith for being named the Junior College/Community College Coach of the Year," said Rod McGeachy, Vice President of Marketing for Russell Athletic. "RUSSELL ATHLETIC knows that attaining the respect of ones peers is the highest accolade a coach can receive."

Smith is one of six WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected by the Association, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III, NAIA) plus the High School division. Each collegiate winner is selected through a two-level process. The first level is by region, in which coaches from each WBCA geographical region vote for their respective top coach. Smith, having received the most votes in WBCA Region 4, advanced as a finalist to the National level of the selection process along with the other six Region Coaches of the Year in JC/CC.

The RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA JC/CC National Coach of the Year Committee, co-chaired by Susan Summons, Miami (Fla.) Dade Community College, convened via conference call and selected Smith as its 2003 winner. The committee includes one representative from each of the nine WBCA Junior College/Community College Regions: Cas Grygorcewicz, Mitchell CC (Region1); Joanne Cobb, Brookdale CC (Region 2); Michael Holloman, Louisburg CC (Region 3); Ann Williams, Fergus Falls CC (Region 4); Kim Muhl, Kirkwood CC (Region 5); Ron Jones, Midland College (Region 6); Brad Clifford, Yavapai College (Region 7); Daryle Broadsword, Mt. Hood CC (Region 8) and William Smith, Saint Petersburg CC (Region 9).

Smith and the national winners from the other five divisions will be presented to the WBCA membership at the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Coach of the Year Banquet on Monday, April 7, at 1 p.m., at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Ballroom. The banquet is part of the 2003 WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in Atlanta.

The following coaches earned RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Region Coach of the Year honors:

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA visit its website at WBCA.org.