Susan Bassett, who guided Union College's men and women's swim teams to several
New York State championships, received the Jean Giambrone Service Award at the
26th annual WHAM Sportswomen of the Year Awards Luncheon at the Clarion
Riverside Hotel in Rochester. Bassett, director of
athletics at William Smith, is the first collegiate administrator to win the
award in its 23-year history.
Bassett, director
of athletics since 1995 and past chair of the NCAA Division III Management
Council, was recognized for her three decades of service to intercollegiate
athletics as a swimming coach and administrator.
Bassett enjoyed
an extraordinary coaching career before moving into the director's chair. In 15 seasons as head coach at William Smith and Union colleges, she coached 114
All-Americans, including three national champions, and was named the 1993 NCAA
Division III Women's Coach of the Year.
Bassett, who
came to Union in 1987, guided the Dutchwomen's program to an eight-year record
of 63-10. Union won its first-ever state title in 1990 and also won the state
crown in 1994 (the only two New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic
Association crowns in Union's history). The 1990 Dutchwomen completed the
regular season with a record of 9-0, the only perfect record in the sport's
history.
Under Bassett's
direction, 42 Dutchwomen qualified for the NCAA meet with 20 earning
All-American honors (a top eight finish) and 42 others taking home honorable
mention status (by finishing nine to 16). Julie Benker won the national
championship in the 100 backstroke in 1993, Union's only female national
champion.
Bassett took
over the men's program prior to the 1987-88 season and finished with a
seven-year record of 42-20. The 1989-90 team completed the program's first
winning season since 1969 and the following years the Dutchmen enjoyed a 7-2
record, their best effort since 1966. Bassett led the 1995 Dutchmen to their
first-ever New York State championship.
In all, 19
Dutchmen qualified for the NCAA meet, earning 13 All-American awards and 17
honorable mention trophies. Kevin Makarowski won the national title in the 200
IM in Bassett's final season of 1994-95.
Named Union's
assistant director of athletics in the spring of 1993, Bassett earned three New
York State “Coach of the Year” awards.
During the
luncheon, the Heart of Gold Children's Foundation (the event's charitable
beneficiary) with the help of its 17 luncheon patrons, awarded four designated
gifts totaling $4,000 to Rochester-area youth organizations in surprise podium
presentations. The Boys & Girls Club of Geneva Youth Girls Basketball
League's Equipment Fund, thanks to a designated contribution from the ESL
Federal Credit Union, was awarded a $1,000 check in the name of Susan Bassett,
who is a volunteer head coach in the Youth Girls Basketball League.
Bassett has
added three varsity programs during her tenure as the Herons' director of
athletics; has overseen the renovation of Winn-Seeley Gymnasium; and has played
a key role in the overall upgrade of the College's athletics facilities.
A national
powerhouse before her arrival, William Smith has continued its championship
tradition during the Bassett era, winning two national championships and three
ECAC titles, as well as dozens of conference championships under her direction.
A member of the
NCAA Management Council from 1999 through 2004, she served her final year on
the Council as chair, overseeing the development and passage of the
wide-sweeping reform package that was adopted during the 2004 NCAA Convention
in January.
A 1979 graduate
of Ithaca College, Bassett received a master's degree in physical education
from Indiana University in 1980.