Ithaca College Athletics

Susan Bassett '79, who was recently named director of athletics at Carnegie-Mellon University, has achieved great success as a coach and administrator, serving for 10 years as director of athletics at William Smith College and coaching swimming & diving at William Smith and Union College for 15 years. During her coaching career she coached 114 All-Americans, won three state championships and became the second female coach to lead both a men's team and a women's team to top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships in the same year and was named national women's swimming coach of the year in 1993. Bassett's career as William Smith's AD was highlighted by four national championships (two in both field hockey and sailing). She served as chair of the NCAA Management Council. Bassett played one year of field hockey at Ithaca before injuries suffered in an auto accident ended her playing career.