Hartwick College Women's Basketball

Sarah Lombard was named the new head women’s basketball coach on August 5, 2021. She becomes the 14th head coach in the history of the program. Lombard will enter her fifth season as head coach of the program in the 2025-2026 season. Lombard would lead three Hawks to land on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team in the 2024-2025 season. Macy Durkin would be considered a success story for Lombard as she garnered Third Team All-Conference honors. In the 2023-2024 season, Lombard would lead her team to the Empire 8 semifinals and have two Hawks named to All-Conference. In her first season with the Hawks, Lombard brought the team to the Empire 8 Tournament, where they made it to the semifinal round. Lombard also coached three successful players to land on the All-Conference list.             Lombard had spent six seasons as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. It marked her second stint with the Engineers after serving in the same capacity from 2008-2010. During her tenure, she helped the program to a Liberty League title and an NCAA Tournament berth, three conference playoff appearances, and single season records for overall victories and conference wins.             “Sarah’s enthusiasm and energy stood out from the very beginning,” said Czarnecki. “She drew upon her past experiences to lay out a plan and vision for the program that aligned well with Hartwick College and the Athletic Department. Sarah’s desire to develop student-athletes into well-rounded individuals, who will be strong competitors and leaders in their communities, was evident since having first met her. I am looking forward to what is to come in this new chapter of the women’s basketball program under Sarah’s leadership.”             “I am excited to be a part of the future of the women’s basketball program at Hartwick College,” said Lombard. “I am honored and humbled to join an institution with such a highly respected academic and athletic tradition. I would like to thank President Drugovich, Athletic Director John Czarnecki and the hiring committee for their confidence in me to lead the Hawks.”             Lombard became a head coach in 2010 when she piloted the women’s basketball program at Bard College for four years. She spent one season as an assistant with the women’s program at Hamilton College in 2014-2015 before returning to RPI. There, she has been involved with all facets of the program, including on-court coaching, recruiting, individual player development, film exchange, game breakdown, scouting reports, and academic monitoring. Lombard also serves as an AAU coach with the Albany Capitals.               As a student-athlete, Lombard played for the Oswego State Lakers from 2004-2008. She helped the program to postseason appearances in all four seasons, including two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances to go along with the SUNYAC Championship in 2006. Lombard was a 1,000-point scorer for the Lakers, she earned All-SUNYAC honors three times, and was an D3hoops All-East Region performer her freshman year. Lombard graduated from Oswego State in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Health & Promotional Wellness Management.             “I have been privileged enough to have worked with extraordinary individuals such as John Greene, Michelle Collins and Jamie Seward, as well as many others who have played integral parts in my development,” added Lombard. “I’d also like to thank my family, friends and loved ones for their unconditional support.”                Lombard will coach her first game at ’Wick on Saturday, November 6 at Lambros Arena against Union College.  

Before joining the education department at Hartwick College, Skinner taught high school special education and enjoyed supporting the student athletes there with balancing academics while pursuing their athletic goals. She now teaches inclusive special education classes at Hartwick. Skinner coaches youth softball in her free time and is passionate about supporting women in sports.  "It is important to me to support the athletic teams at Hartwick because I feel as though they encompass the heart and spirit of the  Hawks community. And they create environments that are rich for learning lifelong lessons and skills, as well as cultivating relationships."