Springfield, Ohio — Former Women's Basketball Head Coach and Associate Director of Athletics Pam Smith, class of 1982, had a profound impact upon the athletes she coached and the students she taught over an illustrious Wittenberg University career that spanned more than two decades.

She will continue to impact young people throughout the future of Wittenberg thanks to the Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship, which was created one month after the women's basketball coach with the most wins and highest winning percentage in North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) history passed away. Cancer may have claimed her life after a spirited 16-year battle, but Smith's influence on young people will be forever remembered - and perhaps even expanded - with the establishment of this scholarship, which will be awarded annually to a deserving female senior who has demonstrated leadership and academic abilities.

"The fund is an opportunity to honor Pam for all her years of dedication to the Wittenberg and Springfield communities and to carry on the legend of what she stood for," said Roger Smith, Pam's husband. "She deserves to have her legacy continued, and this is a way to carry on her name to the benefit of future Wittenberg students."

Smith, a 1999 Wittenberg University Athletics Hall of Honor inductee, established herself as one of the premier women's basketball coaches in NCAA Division III in her 21-year coaching career. The seven-time NCAC Coach of The Year compiled a 401-170 record after taking the reins of a struggling program prior to the 1986-87 season, along the way leading the Tigers to eight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, twelve 20-win seasons and 11 NCAC regular season championships.

Through the end of the 2006-07 season, Smith ranked among the top 30 active NCAA Division III coaches in the country in both total wins and winning percentage. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, was declared Pam Smith Day in Springfield, Ohio, after she became just the 21st active women's basketball coach at the NCAA Division III level to win 400 career games with a 55-39 victory over Kenyon.

Smith also enjoyed a record-breaking career as a player in the Wittenberg Red & White between 1979-82. Smith was selected second-team Academic All-America as a senior after earning team Most Valuable Player three straight years. She was the Tigers' all-time leading scorer until 1989, and she remains the record-holder for season scoring average.

Smith received her bachelor's degree in biology from Wittenberg in 1982 and her master's degree in physical education with an emphasis on exercise physiology from Ithaca College in 1986. She added the role of associate director of athletics and senior woman administrator in 1992, and she also served as a tenured faculty member in Wittenberg's department of health, fitness and sport.

Additional information, and instructions about how to make contributions to the scholarship, can be found on a special memorial Web site, along with an opportunity for visitors to post reflections and messages.

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