University of Hartford Women's Basketball

Jackie Smith '11 enters her first season as the head coach of the women's basketball program after being named as the 12th head coach in program history on May 2nd of 2025.   Smith returns to her alma mater following a six-year stint at Connecticut College where she was the head coach and the department's NCAA Representative for Diversity and Inclusion. During her tenure in New London, Smith led the Camels to two NESCAC playoff runs, while getting over 30 athletes on NESCAC All-Academic Teams.   Prior to being a head coach at Connecticut College, Smith was the top assistant at George Washington University. During her tenure the Colonels most notably advanced to the 2018 NCAA Tournament by winning the Atlantic 10 Conference as well as making the 2017 WNIT Tournament in her first season.  At George Washington, Smith served as the program's recruiting coordinator while also developing three all-conference selections, a sixth man of the year recipient and a A10 tournament MVP.   Prior to George Washington, Smith was at Hartford as an assistant coach from 2013-2016. During the three years back in West Hartford, Smith helped developed five all-conference team players, sixth man of the year winner, and recruited the 2016 rookie-of-the-year. She also organized the first women's basketball alumni game.   Smith began her coaching career as an assistant coach for two seasons at Stonehill College for two seasons. During her time with the Skyhawks the women's basketball team held a record of 37-19, with two NCAA tournament appearances.   A key figure in one of the most successful eras in Hartford women's basketball history, Smith was a two-time team captain for Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti's squads from 2007 to 2011. During her time in a Hawks uniform, she helped guide the program to two America East Conference championships, two-time America East Regular Season champion, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory—a first-round win over Syracuse in 2008.   With Smith playing a central role, the Hawks compiled an impressive 92-39 overall record, achieved their first national top 25 ranking, and soared as high as No. 19 in the AP poll in 2010. As a junior, Smith earned a spot on the America East All-Conference Third Team and capped off her senior campaign by leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.5) while ranking third in assists per game (3.5). By the end of her career, Smith etched her name in the Hawks' record books, ranking 2nd in career free throw percentage (.815), 6th in 3-point field goals made (107), 7th in assists (292) and 8th in games played (122).   Smith earned a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education with a minor in sociology from Hartford in 2011 and is a native of Westfield, Massachusetts.

Spencer Shore enters her first year at the University of Hartford in 2025-26. Shore followed head coach Jackie Smith from Connecticut College after spending the 2024-25 season in New London. In the single season the Camels went 10-14, while going 7-5 on the home floor.  Before joining Connecticut College, Shore spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Manhattanville College, under head coach Kate Vlahakis. During her tenure, the Valiants posted a 44-8 record and made back-to-back appearances in the Skyline Conference Championship. Prior to coaching for the Valiants, Shore played four seasons for the women's basketball program from 2017-2022. In her career Spencer scored 894 points averaging 8.7 points per game in 103 career games. Shore was the Manhattanville's Dante Paccica Sportsmanship Award Winner in 2019-20 and a Skyline All-Conference Second Team selection in 2021-22.  A native of Boca Raton, Florida, Shore graduated from Manhattanville in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in sport studies and a minor in psychology. Spencer went on to earn a master’s degree in sports business management in 2024.